Mexico Nationalizes Lithium Mining Exclusively for the State

One day after the electricity reform defeat, AMLO pivoted to nationalize lithium mining: a bill reserving lithium extraction exclusively for the state was approved by the lower house on April 18 and the Senate on April 19, 2022. Mexico holds the world's eighth-largest lithium deposits, concentrated in Sonora. The nationalization was seen as a consolation win after the electricity reform failure. However, critics noted Mexico lacked the technical and financial capacity to exploit its lithium commercially without private sector involvement; production remained negligible.