China’s Battery Factories May Sit Atop Lithium Resources | OilPrice.com Irina Slav What I Cover Irina Slav has been writing about global energy markets since 2007, covering the oil and gas industry, energy security, commodities, and the… More Info Premium Content By Irina Slav – Oct 29, 2026, 5:00 PM CDT China may be sitting on vast untapped lithium resources, with researchers identifying potential deposits beneath major battery manufacturing hubs in eastern and southern China. Commercial viability remains uncertain, as relatively low lithium concentrations and China's existing battery overcapacity could undermine the economics of extraction. China is pushing to dominate…