Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia has stumbled upon a historic discovery that is likely to take its economy to new diversification heights. The kingdom was able to extract lithium from oil field brines successfully and pave the way for a commercial pilot program.It is an innovative project led by Lithium Infinity, a startup from King Abdullah University for Science and Technology, in partnership with Ma’aden and Aramco, utilizing state-of-the-art technology for lithium extraction.The deputy minister of mining affairs, Khalid Al-Mudaifer, has announced that the commercial pilot program will be promoting direct lithium mining.”They’re extracting lithium through their new technology developed at King Abdullah University for Science and Technology and are in accelerated development,” he said. Growing demand worldwide for lithium due to electric mobility and renewable energy sources gives an added potential viability to the project.Lithium, due to its rarity, is commonly referred to as “white gold.” It is soon going to replace the traditional fossil fuels as a source of energy worldwide. Lithium-ion batteries are used in many electronic devices including electric cars, laptops, smartphones, and emergency lights because of their lightweight nature, high energy density, and rechargeability.Saudi Arabia’s strategic investment in lithium extraction aligns with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s vision to create alternative revenue streams for the oil-rich kingdom. As fossil fuel reserves dwindle, Saudi Arabia aims to become a hub for electric vehicles, allocating billions towards this initiative.Other major oil companies, such as Exxon Mobil and Occidental Petroleum, are also looking into emerging technologies to extract lithium from brine. Aramco considers lithium an “area of interest” and is evaluating its presence in their fields and extraction feasibility.The kingdom’s lithium extraction project would be a very important factor in Saudi Arabia, which would be at the forefront of the energy transition. Lithium prices are forecasted to rise; thus, this project will eventually become economically viable and contribute to the diversification of economic activities and sustainability in the region.
