LIQUIT: Voices of the Territories seeks to understand, map and articulate the voices of communities affected by lithium mining, from speculation to prospecting.
The acronym LIQUIT refers to the diversity of local populations, indigenous peoples, quilombos and traditional communities that inhabit the region. The word also refers to the precious liquid that gives life and name to the valley: the Jequitinhonha River and its hydrographic network.
The Jequitinhonha Valley has its origins in the source of the Jequitinhonha River, in Minas Gerais, and extends until it flows into the Atlantic Ocean, in the extreme south of Bahia. Over the centuries, the river received several names, such as Rio Encantado, Patixa, Yiki-Tinhonhe, Giquiteon and Jequié-Tinhong, until it was consolidated as Jequitinhonha. The name has indigenous origins, being a combination of “jequi” (trap) and “onha” (fish), meaning “trap with many fish”. This name highlights the deep relationship between indigenous peoples and the river, which was a source of food, life and transportation.
People affected by mining can and should be actively involved in the environmental licensing of a project from the outset. Learn more about the subject by accessing the publications
Webinar: “Where is the ‘Lithium Valley’?” – Recording & Highlights Held on 16 September 2025 · Online The event We brought together voices from three
Connecting Struggles for Survival at the Energy Frontier 📅 September 25-26, 2025📍 London South Bank University (LSBU) + Online (Day 1 only) As the global
Local, Indigenous, Quilombola and Traditional Communities and the Making of the “Lithium Valley” in Minas Gerais, Brazil: Empowering Silenced Voices in the Energy Transition (LIQUIT) – This research/project is supported/funded by the British Academy’s ODA 2024 Challenge Oriented Research Grants Programme, with support from the UK Government’s International Science Partnerships Fund