Aramco and Ma’aden Announce Lithium Joint Venture in Saudi Arabia

Collaboration aims to boost the Kingdom’s role in global energy transition with commercial lithium production by 2027.

Aramco and Ma’aden have unveiled plans to establish a joint venture (JV) targeting the extraction of transition minerals, including lithium. The initiative combines Aramco’s geoscience expertise and advanced digital capabilities with Ma’aden’s mining experience.

The JV will leverage cost-effective direct lithium extraction (DLE) technologies to meet the growing global demand for lithium, driven by electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy. With lithium concentrations of up to 400 parts per million identified in Aramco’s operations, the Kingdom is positioned to play a pivotal role in the energy transition.

Commercial lithium production is expected to begin by 2027, contributing to Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification and supporting domestic lithium demand, which is projected to grow twenty-fold by 2030.

News source: F+L Asia