LOS ANGELES, Nov 14 (Reuters) – Exxon Mobil (XOM.N) has but to resolve which lithium filtration expertise it would deploy as a part of its aggressive plans to change into one of many world’s high producers of the steel used to make electrical car (EV) batteries, an govt stated on Tuesday.

On Monday, the oil large unveiled its long-awaited lithium technique and stated it goals to filter the ultralight steel from reservoirs about 10,000 ft beneath the U.S. state of Arkansas. Reuters first reported the information final weekend.

Exxon’s growth into the sector will depend on a number of of a so-far unproven fleet of direct lithium extraction (DLE) applied sciences that Eramet (ERMT.PA), Sunresin (300487.SZ), Rio Tinto (RIO.AX) and others are working to commercialize.

Choosing which DLE expertise to license might be an important resolution upon which Exxon’s manufacturing of the battery steel will rely. The firm has held talks with a spread of DLE expertise suppliers, together with International Battery Metals (IBAT.CD) and privately held VitalitySource Minerals.

“We haven’t chosen a (DLE) company yet. We’re in the process of evaluating a number of companies,” Patrick Howarth, Exxon’s international product supervisor for lithium, stated in an interview on the sidelines of the Benchmark Week 2023 strategic minerals convention in Los Angeles.

The firm will present particulars on its DLE course of as soon as it formally decides to proceed with its lithium mission, a technical step referred to as formal funding resolution, he stated. He declined to be extra particular on timing.

Even although it has but to select a DLE expertise, Exxon is assured it may begin producing lithium by 2027 on 120,000 acres in Arkansas that it acquired earlier this yr, Howarth stated.

“What we’ve seen as we’ve looked at a number of the (DLE) technology providers is pretty consistent abilities on the brine that we’ve got within Arkansas to extract lithium,” he stated.

Because it not but chosen a DLE expertise, Exxon additionally has not but forecast how a lot lithium it finally goals to provide. The firm is drilling check wells throughout Arkansas to review the underground brine reservoir.

“From there, we’ll be able to come back with a more fulsome number about production ambitions,” Howarth stated.

Separately, Exxon has a lithium partnership with Tetra Technologies (TTI.N) to develop a smaller parcel in Arkansas that’s anticipated to be producing 10,000 metric tons of lithium per yr by 2026.

Exxon can be finding out the place else on the planet it might produce lithium, Howarth stated.

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