Indonesia/Australia Lithium Battery Project

Spodumene. "Spod, you mean? Hahaha hehehe *snort* spod's a funny name for a mineral."

Yeah, I thought it was funny. I even thought it was schist. (Geologist jokes alert.) I also thought all those little mines scattered around Australia that were mining Rare Earth Element mineral sands and ores like spodumene were "toy mines." I'd seen a few "proper" mines - you know, the kind that leave scars on the Earth that you can see from the ISS, and they seemed to me to embody mining, not like those smaller ones. But that was forty years ago and most of those niche metals were still pretty niche. 

Nowadays, I'm kicking myself that I didn't invest some money into them back then in the early 1980s... I predicted heaps of things in my life, but spodumene (lithium) wasn't one of them. (Nor most of the other.)

Australia is ranked sixth in terms of REE mineral resources, with 3,660,000 tonnes which is about 3% of REE resources. China 44m tonnes and Russia 12m tonnes  between them have 48%. Brazil, Vietnam, and India command 24% or 30.9m tonnes. Pulling up in the rear are the USA at 1% or 1.44m tonnes, Malaysia with less than 1% and 30,000 tonnes, other smaller producers between them 4.4m tonnes or about 4%.  -- Geoscience Australia (Last updated:7 June 2023)

This illustrates how quickly things change given the rate of change of technology. Forty years ago these REEs were a novelty, a niche resource. Now they're worth forging alliances over. Indonesia wants access to spodumene to refine into lithium to manufacture EV batteries. It's sad that we just dig Australia up and send it overseas anyway, seems we have a history of sending our best stuff overseas for others to profit from. Are we really so colonially whipped that we feel that that's all we deserve? 

But it's even much more sadderererer when you think that we had a company willing to make batteries here, we have another one recycling (mainly lead-acid but who knows, one day perhaps lithium-ion style as well?) batteries. We had several plans to produce EVs locally. We had the plant sitting around. We had (and still have) people who'd jump at a chance to work in such places manufacturing the future. 

Do you get a glimpse, however tiny, of how frustrated I am that we throw away so much value? Our Universities and research organisations totally pwned the solar cell race for years. The support from the government was so rewarding and sustaining that the people that pioneered that early research went to China and formed one of the biggest solar PV companies there instead. In fact, I asked ChatGPT to compile me a list of Aussie innovations and inventions that we couldn't seem to follow up on. 

Me: Could you please compile a list of Australian inventions and innovations that had to be produced overseas? (such as our advances in solar panel technology, wi-fi, etc?) ChatGPT: Certainly! Australia has contributed to several significant inventions and innovations that have had a global impact. While some of these advancements were produced and commercialized overseas, their Australian origins remain noteworthy. Here's a list of Australian inventions and innovations that had to be produced overseas:

Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi technology, also known as IEEE 802.11, was developed by a team of researchers at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Australia during the late 1990s. While the core technology was developed in Australia, it was later commercialized and produced by various companies worldwide. Cochlear Implants: The cochlear implant, a revolutionary hearing device that helps people with severe hearing loss or deafness, was invented in the 1970s by Dr. Graeme Clark at the University of Melbourne. Cochlear Limited, an Australian company, was established to develop and produce these implants, which have since been utilized globally. Polymer Banknotes: Australia was one of the early adopters of polymer banknote technology, which replaced traditional paper-based currency with more durable and secure plastic notes. The concept was developed by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) in collaboration with the CSIRO during the 1980s. Many other countries have since adopted polymer banknotes. Black Box Flight Recorder: The flight data recorder, commonly known as the black box, was invented by Australian engineer David Warren in the 1950s. Although initially met with skepticism, it became an essential aviation safety device used worldwide. Ultrasound Scanner: The world's first ultrasound scanner was developed in the late 1950s by Australian researchers David Robinson and George Kossoff. The technology has become a critical diagnostic tool in the medical field, used globally. Winged Keel: The winged keel, an innovative design used in the America's Cup yacht race in 1983, was created by Australian yachtsman Ben Lexcen. The technology improved yacht stability and performance and was produced overseas for racing. Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Technology: Australia has made significant advancements in solar panel technology, with research conducted by organizations like the University of New South Wales leading to improved efficiency and cost reduction. While solar panels are now manufactured worldwide, Australia's research contributions have been influential. Dual-Flushing Toilet: The dual-flush toilet system, designed to conserve water by offering different flushing options, was patented by Australian inventor Bruce Thompson in the 1980s. It has been widely adopted internationally to promote water conservation. Spray-on Skin: Developed by Dr. Fiona Wood and her team, spray-on skin technology is used to treat severe burns by promoting skin regeneration. While initially developed in Australia, it has been used in other countries to aid burn victims. Medical Pen Needle: Invented by Australian Arthur Smith in the 1980s, the medical pen needle revolutionized insulin delivery for diabetics. It allowed for more convenient and less painful self-administration of insulin, a vital hormone for managing diabetes. Inflatable Aircraft Escape Slide: The inflatable aircraft escape slide was invented by Australian engineer Jack Grant in the 1950s. This innovation significantly improved aircraft safety by providing passengers with a rapid evacuation option in case of emergency landings or accidents. Gardasil (HPV Vaccine): Developed by Australian immunologist Ian Frazer and his team, Gardasil is a vaccine that protects against certain strains of human papillomavirus (HPV), which can lead to cervical cancer. It has been used worldwide to prevent HPV-related diseases. Res-Q-Link (Personal Locator Beacon): The Res-Q-Link is a personal locator beacon designed for maritime and aviation safety. It was invented by Australian aviator Dick Smith, who established the Australian Geographic magazine, and it has been widely used for emergency distress signaling globally. Electronic Pacemaker: In the 1920s, Australian anesthetist Dr. Mark Lidwill and physicist Edgar Booth developed one of the world's first electronic pacemakers, which aided in regulating heart rhythms. The pacemaker technology has since saved countless lives worldwide. Speedo Swimwear: The iconic Speedo swimwear brand originated in Australia in the early 20th century. Its innovative designs and use of advanced materials have made it a globally recognized name in swimwear and aquatic sports. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR): Developed by Australian biochemist Kary Mullis in the 1980s, PCR is a groundbreaking technique used to amplify DNA sequences. PCR has become an essential tool in molecular biology and various scientific fields globally. Quantum Bit (Qubit) Research: Australia has been a pioneer in quantum computing research, with significant contributions from researchers at the University of New South Wales and other institutions. Quantum computing has the potential to revolutionize information processing. In-vitro Fertilization (IVF): While the concept of IVF was developed independently by researchers worldwide, Australians such as Carl Wood and Alan Trounson played a crucial role in refining and advancing the technology. IVF has since helped millions of couples worldwide overcome infertility. Bionic Eye: The development of the bionic eye, a retinal implant designed to restore vision to people with certain types of blindness, involved Australian researchers from the Bionics Institute and the University of Melbourne. Electronic Sphygmomanometer (Digital Blood Pressure Monitor): The electronic sphygmomanometer, an automated blood pressure monitoring device, was invented by Australian engineer David O. Murphy in the late 1970s. It became a standard medical tool worldwide.

See? That list may or may not be 100% accurate (given ChatZGPT's spotty track record) but as far as I can see those are all legitimate, and they point out how little benefit remains in Australia from all our innovation. 

See? I may be a thought innovator. Please let me know by signing for a newsletter, contacting me, or supporting my writing. 

And we need - now more than ever - to have some of these industries on our own shores. Here goes.

The World's Becoming Really Bad.

I don't mean just a little bit bad, like climate scientists have not been saying for decades but coporations have. I mean we-might-die-oh-fuck bad. Theoretically the planet can only heat up so much, but then other theories say "just hold my beer" and it could get very VERY bad. 

And one of the upsides/downsides (depending which side of the globe you're on, see what I did there?) is that some places are already close to uninhabitable while others are already uninhabitable to their local ecosystems. 

But of a more direct concern to us is that people are already dying as their ecosystems heat up. LOTS of people. It's not going to get better next year or the year after, but it might be possible to slow the rate down, make the worst effects a bit milder. 

The only thing is that we need to do that NOW. Not by the end of the year, NOW. If we could stop all vehicles in their tracks right now, we might be able to do it. If we could stop shipping and air transport, that might help too. And if we could do that without a variety of corporations getting on their high horses about how they'll be "negatively affected" by this, we need to start shooting. 

Because what those poor corporations will experience will pale beside what their customers and staff will experience. We will die. Not pleasantly slipping off in our sleep but quite horribly drowning in our own sweat and internal condensation. There are already that are killing like that. Places with high temperatures and high humidities where people's insides are cooler than the surrounding air and so the water condenses inside their lungs. You won't see much of that in the news I'll wager, but there are already places where those conditions have existed this year, and really only pure luck has dictated that it hasn't been a major city. Yet. 

And as I'm lately observing, governments are not going to be happy when they no longer have anyone to govern, so many of them are even now making plans to stand up to corporations, negotiate them down to the facts or else making them illegal or whatever it is that governments do when they want to make something stop.

Meanwhile, consider the Catch-22 of it all. The northern hemisphere is slightly warmer than the southern. That may be because the majority of the landmass of the Earth is in the northern hemi and the majority of the oceans is in the southern. 

Take a look:

That says it all. The oceans exchange heat from the northern to the southern half, but slowly. The north has very little water mass to soak up excess heat, whereas the south has a lot. The north has huge landmasses, and landmasses drive initial warming. The south has quite a small total landmass to heat up. 

So what's the problem?

We down in the antipodes may be desperate to ditch fossil fuels but we won't be able to do so without batteries and EVs and wind turbines. We won't even be able to run air conditioners as much as we'll need to. And we're already woefully under-performing in manufacturing. How we'd bootstrap up a renewables industry let alone start manufacturing air conditioners or even electric scooters is beyond me right now. 

The problem is

Most of the manufacturing is in the northern half. There are few manufacturing powerhouses this side of the Big Divider. If we want to have electricity and manufactured goods after the Big Burn, we should be securing that capability RIGHT NOW. And I just realised that I've actually said it, there's a much bigger problem. 

The Big Burn Is Coming

The northern hemisphere is probably going to feel the worst of the climate crisis' effects. There's also pretty good evidence that the northern hemisphere created most of the climate crisis but let's be honest that's a matter of opportunity not motivation. If civilisations down under had won the race to the Industrial Revolution the world would be in just as bad a shape. 

But as the north's disastrous and catastrophe-fraught summer has shown, the genie's well out of the lamp and granting wishes. 

Back to the article

There are few large manufacturing industrial ventures this side. A lot of resource gathering (aka mining and polluting and exploiting) has happened here though. But even if the resource reserve of the planet was to keep digging crap out of the ground after the BB, there'd be nothing much by way of processing it. Maybe Indonesia, Malaysia. Some of South America and South Africa might have a few processing smelters etc, a few factories. But the majority of that kind of industry lies well above the equator. 

And at the kind of effects we've seen this year, much of it will be able to keep on going. Roads between centres may melt but train tracks can be built. But we're totally 100% NOT guaranteed that this year has been the turning point. 

So - making batteries in Indonesia will give us energy storage, storage that (grimly, I have to add here "for as long as it is able to") will allow us to eke out the renewable energy we have. As I said, the northern hemi will also create demand for those batteries. And win most of the production, too. But there's a - small - chance that some of the battery production will be able to be done onshore in Australia (remember Australia? I started off with Indonesia and Australia collaborating on battery technology and while it's taken a bit to get back to the point where this is going to start to make sense) because to NOT do that would be foolish. 

I'm looking directly at Anthony Albanese and Chris Bowen as I write this. Get some production happening right here in this country where we seem to manage crises much better than the average, where we have unemployed people who are quite capable of operating such plant. There is going to be demand for it quite soon. I'm willing to bet on that. 

Of course, there's another thing: Indonesia is in the equatorial zone so they may be protected from the extremes of the northern hemisphere for now. But that belt also gets the most consistent heating effect. And it's important to note that a mere ten years ago the Indonesian president at that time, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, said that he wanted his military to be capable of "wiping out" Australia. It's no longer in the online record but I remember that at the time this generated a bit of buzz. So I suspect those reports have been removed by now. I did find this - the watered-down version. It does point to what Indonesia will want to do once the equatorial zone becomes less habitable... Maybe having factories here will provide them a way to bring some people to safety. A LOT of people are going to be seeking safety down under.

But as we know, we have had manufacturing capacity, we do have military and defence agreements, and we've got a perfectly terrible record on refuge seekers. We've also - and largely thanks to a negative, authoritarian, and regressive right wing dinosaur government - lost manufacturing industries and capabilities, innovations we developed, and a lot of our national pride and reputation as the "Lucky Country." There's no doubt in my mind that our two-party system and especially the Liberal/National Party Coalition within it has put us in a situation where we'll need to make a concerted effort to recover. But recover that spirit we will have to as the climate disaster progresses, and that of course under that very disastrous planetary situation. 

I really hope our national identity as the Aussie Battler survives the next decade... 

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