Exxon Mobil to Start Lithium Production in Arkansas by 2027

Company aims to become a leading producer of lithium for electric vehicle batteries, with plans to supply enough lithium for over a million EVs per year by 2030.

Exxon Mobil has announced plans to start producing lithium by 2027 in Arkansas, aiming to become a leading producer of the metal used in electric vehicle batteries.
The company purchased 120,000 acres of the Smackover formation in southern Arkansas, one of the most prolific lithium resources in North America.
Exxon Mobil will use conventional oil and gas drilling methods to access lithium-rich saltwater from reservoirs about 10,000 feet underground.
The company plans to use direct lithium extraction technology to separate lithium from the saltwater, convert it onsite to battery-grade material, and then re-inject the remaining saltwater back into the ground.
By 2030, Exxon Mobil aims to produce enough lithium to supply the manufacturing needs of more than 1 million electric vehicles per year.