Lithium Related Media Articles, page-13160

I saw that article from Reuters yesterday. Great to see those news coming out @Process1.

Berkshire Hathaway is now downgrading its geothermal lithium brine project which would extract lithium by DLE (Direct Lithium Extraction) from Salton Sea geothermal brines.

I too have pointed out those two reasons on my post (see below) before.
Now BH has discovered them again
Good on you BH!
....

1) Extracting lithium from geothermal brine is not economically viable.
2) Producing lithium hydroxide from lithium brine is not economically viable.
3) DLE (Direct Lithium Extraction) technology is not commercially proven yet.

I told all these (re: VUL) before on my Post #: 50255624long time ago on Jan 2021.



Two challenges caused Berkshire Hathaway to downgrade the geothermal lithium brine project which would extract lithium by DLE (Direct Lithium Extraction) from Salton Sea geothermal brines.

I too have pointed out those two reasons on my post before.
Now BH has discovered them again
Good on you BH!

1) Extracting lithium from geothermal brine is not economically viable.
The very high temperature, all kind of minerals and dirt in geothermal brine corrodes equipment and clogs pipes, and is plaguing the extraction operation This is an unsolvable problem. It is correct that the facility will struggle to get even the most basic processing equipment to work due to the extreme heat of the geothermal brines.

I knew that from a Prof. of Mech. Engineer friend of mine who was a director of a geothermal project at Eastern Australia 4 years ago. The project was abandoned because same reason; very high corrosion which caused vry high cost of equipment and work! All the equipment used in project needs to be stainless steel, specially designed and produced (pipes, valves, pumps, tanks, etc..). But not enough, they need to be replaced frequently.

2) Producing lithium hydroxide from lithium brine is not economically viable. It hasn't been achieved in the world other than lab scale work.
(... making hydroxide requires extra processing involving crystallizers and other specialized equipment. If and when Berkshire is able to extract the lithium from the Salton Sea brine, making carbonate would be less complicated and expensive than making hydroxide).

Anyway good luck to every lithium stock holder in the world.

I don't know any better project than LTR's KV and any better company management than LTR's.