RIYADH — Commercial lithium production in Saudi Arabia might begin by 2027, according to a newly proposed joint venture (JV) between Aramco and Ma’aden, which was announced at the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh. The agreement, stated in non-binding Heads of Terms, focusses on the exploration and mining of energy transition minerals in Saudi Arabia. The JV will focus on lithium extraction from high-concentration deposits and the development of direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology.
This effort supports Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 by utilising the Kingdom’s enormous mineral resources to meet rising worldwide demand for lithium and other vital energy transition materials. Nasir K. Al-Naimi, Aramco’s Upstream President, emphasised the importance of this initiative: “This agreement underscores our commitment to contributing to the global energy transition. By combining Aramco’s technology innovation with Ma’aden’s mining knowledge, we want to speed sustainable energy solutions and help Saudi Arabia’s diversification aspirations.”
Aramco has found regions in the Kingdom where lithium concentrations approach 400 parts per million. These finds present a huge possibility to increase domestic and worldwide lithium supply. The joint venture will use Aramco’s geological skills and infrastructure, as well as Ma’aden’s mining capabilities, to realise the Arabian Shield’s potential.
Darryl Clark, Ma’aden’s Senior Vice President of Exploration, stated: “This joint venture will enable us to speed exploration across the Arabian Platform by combining our skills with Aramco’s enormous knowledge and resources.
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