SMM9 March 29: Tesla plans to build a lithium hydroxide chemical plant near the Austin plant in Texas. Q4 is scheduled to start operation in 2022 and will be used to provide raw materials for the upcoming Cyber fuel truck Gigafactory.
The upcoming lithium hydroxide refinery will convert hard rock spodumene ore into lithium hydroxide and use it directly in batteries. Tesla will use a hydrometallurgical process to convert spodumene ore into lithium hydroxide, thus effectively avoiding the use of sulfuric acid. However, this process has not been tested on a commercial scale.
![[SMM Revisión semanal del mercado de celdas de baterías de almacenamiento de energía 9.3] La escasez de láminas de cobre limita los programas de producción de septiembre, los precios de las celdas de baterías de almacenamiento de energía se mantienen firmes](https://imgqn.smm.cn/usercenter/tKgKv20251217171725.png)

![Lithium Carbonate Market Weekly Review: 8.31-9.3 spot lithium carbonate prices rose first then fell, overall downward trend [SMM Weekly Review]](https://imgqn.smm.cn/usercenter/PPLUj20251217171727.jpg)
