LiHyTech’s Technology Succeeds in Extracting Lithium from Oilfield Brine in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has achieved a milestone by extracting lithium from brine associated with its oilfields, marking a step towards economic diversification and technoloIn a significant move towards diversifying its economy, Saudi Arabia has successfully extracted lithium from oilfield brine and is preparing to launch a commercial pilot program to enhance this extraction process.gical innovation. The vice minister of mining affairs announced plans to initiate a commercial pilot program for direct lithium extraction in the near future.

This initiative is spearheaded by Lithium Infinity, commonly known as LiHyTech, a startup incubated at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). LiHyTech is collaborating with Saudi mining company Ma’aden and oil giant Aramco to advance this project. The company has developed cutting-edge technology designed to extract lithium efficiently from oilfield brines, with the pilot plant set to operate continuously using brine from Aramco's oilfields.

Lithium plays a crucial role in the production of batteries for electric vehicles, laptops, and smartphones. While the current cost of extracting lithium from oilfield brine is higher compared to traditional methods, the vice minister expressed optimism that rising lithium prices could render the project commercially viable in the near future.

This development aligns with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, an ambitious plan to diversify the kingdom's economy away from oil dependency by investing in emerging technologies and sustainable resource extraction methods. The successful implementation of direct lithium extraction could position Saudi Arabia as a key player in the global lithium market, supporting the growing demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage solutions.