It's crucial to agriculture and EV batteries, scarce and concentrated in a few countries, linked to pollution from cradle to grave – why the low profile?
I've wondered about this, so thanks, Ian, for giving this perspective. Would it be wrong to say that phosphate for EV batteries is a very small part of overall demand/production? Also, phosphate has the potential advantage over nickel and cobalt (for EV batteries) in that a lot of production is in the US. At least we can take responsibility for our own impacts that way, although it sounds like Tunisia and Togo are bearing some risks too. As I recall, the island country of Nauru was pretty much obliterated by phosphate mining.
I've wondered about this, so thanks, Ian, for giving this perspective. Would it be wrong to say that phosphate for EV batteries is a very small part of overall demand/production? Also, phosphate has the potential advantage over nickel and cobalt (for EV batteries) in that a lot of production is in the US. At least we can take responsibility for our own impacts that way, although it sounds like Tunisia and Togo are bearing some risks too. As I recall, the island country of Nauru was pretty much obliterated by phosphate mining.