One of Sri Lanka's oldest mines holds valuable deposits of graphite — a critical mineral that makes up the largest part of EV batteries. But even though the country produces the world's purest form, experts say Sri Lanka isn't a global competitor. So what can the country do to rise up and meet the skyrocketing demand? Editor's Note: A previous version of this video incorrectly stated that the graphite deposits in Sri Lanka are 2,500 years old. MORE INSIDER NEWS VIDEOS: Inside Putin's Bunkers And Arctic Bases Across Russia | Decoded Marathon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOPwgyvrjyA Is This Amelia Earhart's Missing Plane? | Insider News https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSBklvTH7lU Lost Golden Mole Rediscovered After 86 Years | Insider News https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cgz4Q8E-fqA 00:00 - Intro 00:56 - A Way Of Life In Sri Lanka 01:36 - Going Down The Elevator 02:16 - Mining 2,000 Feet Underground 02:41 - Blasting Rocks With Dynamite 04:09 - The Challenges Of Mining 05:23 - History Of Sri Lanka's Graphite 05:57 - China Enters The Graphite Game 06:04 - Processing Vein Graphite In Sri Lanka 06:31 - Graphite Industry In Sri Lanka Vs. China 07:00 - Graphite's Role In EV Batteries 07:31 - China's Monopoly On Graphite 08:01 - China's Graphite Restrictions & The US 08:29 - Potential Of Sri Lanka's Graphite 08:49 - Working In The Kahatagaha Mine 09:28 - A Humble Lifestyle 10:07 - Credits ------------------------------------------------------ #graphite #mining #insidernews Insider's mission is to inform and inspire. Visit our homepage for the top stories of the day: https://www.insider.com/news Insider News on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InsiderNews Insider News on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insider Insider News on Twitter: https://twitter.com/insidernews Insider News on Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/discover/News_Insider/5185974304 Insider News on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@insidernews Plunging 2,000 Feet Underground For A Critical Mineral: Graphite | Risky Business | Insider News