2
INTRODUCTION
This article focuses on a set of assessments focused on the
potential of lithium and the implications it may have in
Peru, in order to identify where it is heading, how far it
can go in the national and private industry. Peru has a large
current reserve of 4.7 million tons which, through research,
is presented in mineral deposits and evaporitic sedimentary
environments [1] and [2]. The white gold deposit is located
in the Corani district, Carabaya province, Puno district,
possibly considered one of the ten largest lithium reserves
in the world and as a future source of income [3] y [4].
In this context, we focus on two key issues. First, the
potential and technological impact of lithium within the
global market the global bibliometric perspective empha-
sizes the present and future importance of scientific and
technological research focused on lithium, which drives the
article. Currently, the profitability of this mineral is grow-
ing, due to its implication in different industrial aspects
given its high efficiency compared to the different metals
that are used. The demand for lithium is on the rise due to
the high demand for electric vehicles with lithium batter-
ies, since the manufacture of these will reduce environmen-
tal pollution. The price of lithium in the last 10 years has
increased sixfold in economic value, exports such as lithium
carbonate, lithium chloride and lithium hydroxide have a
high profitability and market quotations [5]y [6]. White
gold, being treated as a strategic mineral for the energy tran-
sition, improves the availability of extraction and makes it
possible for demand for this metal to multiply its value by
40 in approximately 20 years [7].
Given that the above highlights that all issues are finan-
cially important for companies in a given industry (min-
ing), the simple fact that its use occupies 30% of the market
makes this mineral have a very large investor attraction for
its extraction. Consequently, it is considered the key ele-
ment for new technologies.
The second relates to the discovery of Puno’s white gold,
which is considered one of the world’s great reserves [8].
However, the project has problems that prevent viability for
exploitation among these, there is the presence of uranium
together with lithium and the lack of a regulatory frame-
work to regulate extraction [8], [9]. On the other hand,
some observations were made public about the performance
of the company promoting the project for non-compliance
with environmental regulations in the development of
activities, at the same time as the issuance of administrative
resolutions that affect the mining rights granted within the
field of the deposit [3], [10]. The problem is that lithium
is associated with uranium and when extracting the second
mineral is exposed, which is very delicate environmentally.
Carrying out this activity with the two metals is very com-
plex, because closing a uranium mine costs several million
dollars and requires very high standards.
This article contributes in a descriptive and statistical
way. First, in explaining the economic growth, technologi-
cal advance and the inclusion of lithium in the market, in
order to analyze the implications in Peru. Evidence is added
and provided from market qualifications and studies that
may be useful for predicting where the mineral is heading.
As far as we know, we are not the first to examine the capac-
ity of this mineral. However, we provide ideas on how bet-
ter decision making can be leveraged Thus, in that way the
global context around lithium exploitation is pointed out.
Thus, this document is linked to examining the poten-
tial, impact and economic benefits in Peru, providing
updated information on the extraction of white gold and
its associate Uranium in Puno by the company Macusani
Yellowcake and the lack of a regulation allowing its exploi-
tation in Peru. Likewise, reviews of official sources were
conducted, including that generated by public information
published by the company Plateu Energy Metals, as the
main interested party in the execution of this project.
RESULTS
Forecast And Evolution Of The Economic And
Technological Study Of Lithium In Articles (Academic
Sources)
Between 2015 and 2022 there has been exponential
growth in the number of articles on lithium economics
published in academic databases such as Google Scholar,
Scopus, Taylor &Francis, IEEE Xplore, OnePetro and
ScienceDirect. Google Scholar contains around 4,050
articles with “lithium economy,” while Scopus has approxi-
mately 3,702 articles on this topic (Table 1). The Taylor &
Francis base has 799 articles, IEEE Xplore 315, OnePetro
220 and ScienceDirect 2,379 relevant articles published in
the last 7 years. Although the volume varies between dis-
ciplinary and multidisciplinary bases, they all show a clear
growing trend in research on the economics of this com-
modity. This exponential increase in academic literature
reflects global interest in a better understanding of supply,
demand, prices, policies and technological impact related
to lithium. Clearly, in a few years this material has become
a highly relevant and studied economic topic across various
fields (Figure 1).
Between 2015 and 2022 there has been a strong
increase in research on lithium technology published in
academic databases. Google Scholar and Scopus show
sustained growth, from around 480 articles in 2015 to
more than 2,000 in 2022 for the first, and from 380 to
INTRODUCTION
This article focuses on a set of assessments focused on the
potential of lithium and the implications it may have in
Peru, in order to identify where it is heading, how far it
can go in the national and private industry. Peru has a large
current reserve of 4.7 million tons which, through research,
is presented in mineral deposits and evaporitic sedimentary
environments [1] and [2]. The white gold deposit is located
in the Corani district, Carabaya province, Puno district,
possibly considered one of the ten largest lithium reserves
in the world and as a future source of income [3] y [4].
In this context, we focus on two key issues. First, the
potential and technological impact of lithium within the
global market the global bibliometric perspective empha-
sizes the present and future importance of scientific and
technological research focused on lithium, which drives the
article. Currently, the profitability of this mineral is grow-
ing, due to its implication in different industrial aspects
given its high efficiency compared to the different metals
that are used. The demand for lithium is on the rise due to
the high demand for electric vehicles with lithium batter-
ies, since the manufacture of these will reduce environmen-
tal pollution. The price of lithium in the last 10 years has
increased sixfold in economic value, exports such as lithium
carbonate, lithium chloride and lithium hydroxide have a
high profitability and market quotations [5]y [6]. White
gold, being treated as a strategic mineral for the energy tran-
sition, improves the availability of extraction and makes it
possible for demand for this metal to multiply its value by
40 in approximately 20 years [7].
Given that the above highlights that all issues are finan-
cially important for companies in a given industry (min-
ing), the simple fact that its use occupies 30% of the market
makes this mineral have a very large investor attraction for
its extraction. Consequently, it is considered the key ele-
ment for new technologies.
The second relates to the discovery of Puno’s white gold,
which is considered one of the world’s great reserves [8].
However, the project has problems that prevent viability for
exploitation among these, there is the presence of uranium
together with lithium and the lack of a regulatory frame-
work to regulate extraction [8], [9]. On the other hand,
some observations were made public about the performance
of the company promoting the project for non-compliance
with environmental regulations in the development of
activities, at the same time as the issuance of administrative
resolutions that affect the mining rights granted within the
field of the deposit [3], [10]. The problem is that lithium
is associated with uranium and when extracting the second
mineral is exposed, which is very delicate environmentally.
Carrying out this activity with the two metals is very com-
plex, because closing a uranium mine costs several million
dollars and requires very high standards.
This article contributes in a descriptive and statistical
way. First, in explaining the economic growth, technologi-
cal advance and the inclusion of lithium in the market, in
order to analyze the implications in Peru. Evidence is added
and provided from market qualifications and studies that
may be useful for predicting where the mineral is heading.
As far as we know, we are not the first to examine the capac-
ity of this mineral. However, we provide ideas on how bet-
ter decision making can be leveraged Thus, in that way the
global context around lithium exploitation is pointed out.
Thus, this document is linked to examining the poten-
tial, impact and economic benefits in Peru, providing
updated information on the extraction of white gold and
its associate Uranium in Puno by the company Macusani
Yellowcake and the lack of a regulation allowing its exploi-
tation in Peru. Likewise, reviews of official sources were
conducted, including that generated by public information
published by the company Plateu Energy Metals, as the
main interested party in the execution of this project.
RESULTS
Forecast And Evolution Of The Economic And
Technological Study Of Lithium In Articles (Academic
Sources)
Between 2015 and 2022 there has been exponential
growth in the number of articles on lithium economics
published in academic databases such as Google Scholar,
Scopus, Taylor &Francis, IEEE Xplore, OnePetro and
ScienceDirect. Google Scholar contains around 4,050
articles with “lithium economy,” while Scopus has approxi-
mately 3,702 articles on this topic (Table 1). The Taylor &
Francis base has 799 articles, IEEE Xplore 315, OnePetro
220 and ScienceDirect 2,379 relevant articles published in
the last 7 years. Although the volume varies between dis-
ciplinary and multidisciplinary bases, they all show a clear
growing trend in research on the economics of this com-
modity. This exponential increase in academic literature
reflects global interest in a better understanding of supply,
demand, prices, policies and technological impact related
to lithium. Clearly, in a few years this material has become
a highly relevant and studied economic topic across various
fields (Figure 1).
Between 2015 and 2022 there has been a strong
increase in research on lithium technology published in
academic databases. Google Scholar and Scopus show
sustained growth, from around 480 articles in 2015 to
more than 2,000 in 2022 for the first, and from 380 to