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Argentina, Chile suspended lithium supplies to Russia — official

According to deputy department director of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade Vladislav Demidov, Russian companies are preparing to start lithium feedstock mining in Russia but the paperwork on licenses for their operation should be expedited

MOSCOW, April 12. /TASS/. Argentina and Chile have suspended raw lithium deliveries to Russia, deputy department director of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade Vladislav Demidov said at the roundtable in the Federation Council, the upper house of the Russian parliament.

"Russia is not producing raw lithium. The feedstock is coming as lithium carbonate largely from Chile, Argentina, China and Bolivia. Shipments from Chile and Argentina have been specifically suspended in the current situation, the current opportunity is to get raw materials from Bolivia only," Demidov said. China has an opportunity to supply feedstock but the country itself experiences its dramatic shortage, the official noted.

Russia at the same time has feedstock processing capacities and companies are processing the raw material now to cover domestic needs and for export deliveries, Demidov said.

Companies are preparing to start lithium feedstock mining in Russia but the paperwork on licenses for their operation should be expedited, he added.

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