Science1 hOctober 9, 2026, 00:51

First US lithium plant in 50 years opens in Texas, 3,000 tons from wastewater

Element3 has started commercial operations at a Midland, Texas plant that extracts lithium from oilfield wastewater using ORNL technology. The site is expected to produce at least 3,000 tons of lithium a year, nearly half of current US output of 5,000–6,000 tons.

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First US lithium plant in 50 years opens in Texas, 3,000 tons from wastewater

Element3's Midland plant recovers lithium from Permian Basin produced water
Capacity of at least 3,000 tons a year vs 5,000–6,000 tons for all of US
ORNL process yields LiCl, then battery-grade lithium carbonate
US produces under 1% of global lithium and relies on imports

#Element3#ORNL

POSCO completes second Argentina lithium plant with 23,000-ton capacity

Science

ORNL and Boeing 3D-print two-ton steel mold for lighter aircraft doors

Business

LG Energy Solution secures 240,000 tons of Canadian lithium concentrate

Science

First US lithium plant in 50 years opens in Texas, 3,000 tons from wastewater

POSCO completes second Argentina lithium plant with 23,000-ton capacity

ORNL and Boeing 3D-print two-ton steel mold for lighter aircraft doors

LG Energy Solution secures 240,000 tons of Canadian lithium concentrate

3.5 GW capacity US plant to make ultra-thin lithium films for domestic battery production