Saudi Aramco has awarded a five-year contract worth almost $200 million to US oilfield services provider National Energy Services Reunited (NESR) to develop Saudi Arabia’s first lithium extraction project.
The project is expected to begin producing 2,000 tonnes a year of battery-grade lithium carbonate in late 2027, according to NESR.
NESR said it will deploy modular systems to condition brine feedstock and extract lithium through a single integrated process. Lithium is used in electric vehicle batteries, energy storage and other renewable energy applications.
The agreement comes as Saudi Arabia expands its minerals and electric vehicle ambitions. Brunswick Exploration began searching for lithium in the kingdom in November 2025, while Aramco and Maaden announced plans in January to establish a joint venture focused on mineral exploration and mining.
Saudi Arabia’s EV push also includes the Public Investment Fund’s majority ownership of Lucid and Ceer, a local venture involving PIF, Foxconn and BMW. Ceer launched its first vehicles in September.
Source: AGBI
