[hinckley buzzard]

Lithium isn’t that rare. Retrieving it and processing it is expensive, but there is an abundance even here in north america.

[Secret Agent Man]

yup

and we may have just one place we’re allowed to get it from right now

[flamberge]

Lithium extraction is a very high pollution activity, best done far away from neighbors who might object to ground and water contamination.

Nobody wants to pay for the remediation work. That is what is expensive.

This stuff was outsourced to China because their rulers don't care about such things very much and have lots of desert wastes where they can operate the facilities and dump the tailings.