LONDON, Dec. 15 (Reuters) – Twelve other companies in the lithium supply chain, including Rio Tinto (RIO.L), BASF (BASFn.DE) and Sibanye Stillwater (SSWJ.J) have joined a global trade association to the material used to make batteries for electric vehicles.

They, along with others such as Savannah Resources (SAVS.L), SVOLT Energy Technology, Sichuan Calciner Technology, Minviro, Hatch, Galvanic Energy, C&D Logistics Group, Adionics and Anson Resources, will join as founding associate members.

The five founding members of the International Lithium Association (ILiA), SQM, Ganfeng Lithium (002460.SZ), AMG Brazil, Orocobre and Pilbara Minerals (PLS.AX), represent more than half of the world’s lithium production.

“Faced with rapid growth, change and attention, lithium producers saw an urgent need for the industry to form an association that could effectively and efficiently address common challenges, such as promoting a chain of lithium’s enduring value as we move forward into the lithium century, ”ILiA said in a statement Wednesday.

Reporting by Pratima Desai Editing by Mark Potter

Our Standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.