Faiza Tehseen

Lithium is an essential building block for the development of a low carbon economy in Pakistan.

“Lithium is becoming a particular part of energy storage and electric vehicle batteries. Unique properties of lithium make it a most demanding industrial item,” said an official from the Geological Survey of Pakistan. Speaking to WealthPK on condition of anonymity, he said: “Pakistan should focus on lithium mining keeping in view its global demand.

However, conventional methods of lithium extraction and processing are slow and resource intensive. In traditional methods, brine is usually pumped to the surface and stocked in evaporation ponds. Evaporation caused by sun is used to refine and yield lithium, but this process can take from months to years and requires large area. It also causes water and air pollution,” he explained.

He said that scaling of lithium mining or extraction needed smart technologies like the direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology, which is not only less time and resource-intensive but also high in output. “It also reduces the need for additional processing and alternative sources, such as sea mining, which have a greater environmental impact.” The official said: “The DLE technology can help enhance the lithium production by twofold, stabilise the lithium price and lower the environmental impact.

The government should offer lucrative incentives to attract investment in the exploration and mining of lithium in Pakistan.” The official said that lithium was a potential wealth generator and that Pakistan should seek Chinese expertise in tapping this potential. “The development of this new mining segment on modern lines will open new windows of opportunity and strengthen the mining sector,” he said. 

Meanwhile, talking to WealthPK about the indigenous lithium extraction through DLE technique, Muhammad Yousuf, a mining engineer, said: “In the coming years, lithium extraction from brines will be highly focused because it requires less capital and easier to take out from ground.”  He said the DLE helps improve process efficiencies to extract lithium in large quantities in limited time.

“The technology entails selective extraction of lithium ions directly from the lithium-rich solutions. DLE is disrupting traditional practices by reducing carbon, time and costs. It can reduce emissions by 50% compared to traditional lithium refining.” Yousuf explained that chemical or physical methods were used to extract lithium through DLE technique.

“It is more efficient than conventional lithium extraction methods – evaporation ponds. Using this technique, lithium-rich brine is extracted from salars (underground reservoirs), and then it is pre-treated to remove impurities.” Yousuf is also the General Secretary of the Institute of Mining Engineers Pakistan and Chairman Asia Business Forum, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

He further explained: “To extract lithium selectively, the lithium ions are extracted by using different methods – absorption, solvent extraction, membrabe technology, or ion exchange. Later, the captured lithium ions are post-treated to recover them in a usable form.” The mining engineer said DLE is faster and more efficient, with low environmental footprint. “Compared to conventional methods, it requires far less land.

As DLE is not dependent on evaporation and mineral concentration, lithium extracted through it is high in purity and can directly be used in battery manufacturing.” Yousuf said the government should focus on extracting lithium through DLE to not only meet the needs of local industry but also export the excessive quantity in value-added form. He also emphasised the need to bring Chinese expertise in this regard.

Credit: INP-WealthPk