Occidental and BHE Renewables Form Joint Venture to Commercialize TerraLithium Extraction Technology
June 04 2024 - 8:00AM
Occidental (NYSE: OXY) and BHE Renewables, a wholly owned
subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy, today announced they
formed a joint venture for the demonstration and deployment of
TerraLithium’s Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) and associated
technologies to extract and commercially produce high-purity
lithium compounds from geothermal brine.
TerraLithium, a wholly owned subsidiary of Occidental, has
patented DLE technologies that have the potential to process any
lithium-containing brine into a responsibly sourced supply of
high-purity lithium. BHE Renewables operates 10 geothermal power
plants in California’s Imperial Valley, which process 50,000
gallons of lithium-rich brine per minute to produce 345 megawatts
of clean energy. The joint venture has begun a project at BHE
Renewables’ Imperial Valley geothermal facility to demonstrate the
feasibility of using the TerraLithium DLE technology to produce
lithium in an environmentally safe manner.
“This joint venture with TerraLithium represents a significant
advancement in BHE Renewables’ commitment to pursuing commercial
lithium production that is environmentally safe, commercially
viable and leads to good outcomes for the Imperial Valley
community,” said Alicia Knapp, President and CEO of BHE Renewables.
“We are excited to be working with Occidental on this incredible
opportunity to make the Imperial Valley a global leader in lithium
production.”
Upon successful demonstration, BHE Renewables plans to build,
own and operate commercial lithium production facilities in
California’s Imperial Valley. The joint venture also plans to
license the technology and develop commercial lithium production
facilities outside the Imperial Valley.
“By leveraging Occidental’s expertise in managing and processing
brine in our oil and gas and chemicals businesses, combined with
BHE Renewables’ deep knowledge in geothermal operations, we are
uniquely positioned to advance a more sustainable form of lithium
production,” said Richard Jackson, President, U.S. Onshore
Resources and Carbon Management, Operations at Occidental. “We look
forward to working with BHE Renewables to demonstrate how DLE
technology can produce a critical mineral that society needs to
further net zero goals.”
Lithium is a key component in batteries for electric vehicles,
consumer electronics and energy grid storage. It is also used in
industrial applications to manufacture glass, ceramics and
pharmaceuticals. According to the International Renewable Energy
Agency, battery lithium demand is projected to increase tenfold
over 2020–2030, in line with battery demand growth.
“Creating a secure, reliable and domestic supply of high-purity
lithium products to help meet growing global lithium demand is
essential for the energy transition,” said Jeff Alvarez, President
and General Manager of TerraLithium. “The partnership with BHE
Renewables will enable the joint venture to accelerate the
development of our Direct Lithium Extraction and associated
technologies and advance them toward commercial lithium
production.”
About Occidental
Occidental is an international energy company with assets
primarily in the United States, the Middle East and North Africa.
We are one of the largest oil and gas producers in the U.S.,
including a leading producer in the Permian and DJ basins, and
offshore Gulf of Mexico. Our midstream and marketing segment
provides flow assurance and maximizes the value of our oil and gas.
Our chemical subsidiary OxyChem manufactures the building blocks
for life-enhancing products. Our Oxy Low Carbon Ventures subsidiary
is advancing leading-edge technologies and business solutions that
economically grow our business while reducing emissions. We are
committed to using our global leadership in carbon management to
advance a lower-carbon world. Visit oxy.com for more
information.
About TerraLithium
TerraLithium, a wholly owned subsidiary of Occidental, provides
a technology platform for extracting lithium from geothermal and
other brines to produce ultra-pure battery-grade lithium hydroxide
and lithium carbonate—a more responsible way to source ultra-pure
lithium. For more information visit terralithium.com.
About BHE Renewables
BHE Renewables is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire
Hathaway Energy and is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. BHE
Renewables owns solar, wind, geothermal, and hydroelectric projects
that produce energy for both the wholesale market and for customers
under long-term power agreements. BHE Renewables owns and operates
10 geothermal clean power facilities in California’s Imperial
Valley. Learn more at bherenewables.com.
Forward Looking Statement
This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within
the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including those relating
to the joint venture’s benefits and Occidental’s (NYSE:
OXY), its subsidiaries’ and the joint
venture’s deployment and use of DLE and associated
technologies, which are based on Occidental’s current expectations,
beliefs, plans, estimates, and forecasts. All statements other than
statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements for
purposes of federal and state securities laws. Words such as
“believe,” “will,” “may,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend” or similar
expressions that convey the prospective nature of events or
outcomes are generally indicative of forward-looking statements.
You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release.
Unless legally required, Occidental does not undertake any
obligation to update, modify, or withdraw any forward-looking
statements as a result of new information, future events, or
otherwise.
These statements are not guarantees of future performance as
they involve assumptions that may prove to be incorrect and risks
and uncertainties, including those that are beyond Occidental’s
control. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially
from forward-looking statements include Occidental’s, its
subsidiaries’, and the joint venture’s ability to access necessary
technology, to develop and employ existing or new technology on a
commercial scale, to access capital, to execute operational
objectives on a timely and successful basis, to collaborate with
third parties and customers, and to receive approvals from
regulatory bodies, as well as implementation of government
frameworks and permitting for lithium extraction, market
conditions, including commercial interest in lithium products and
consumer interest in electric vehicles, geopolitical events, and
scientific developments. Additional factors that may affect the
joint venture’s benefits and Occidental’s, its subsidiaries’, and
the joint venture’s ability to deploy DLE and associated
technologies can be found in Occidental’s filings with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which may be accessed at
Occidental’s website at oxy.com or the SEC’s website at sec.gov.
Information included herein is not necessarily material to an
investor in Occidental’s securities.
Contacts
Media |
Investors |
Eric Moses |
R.
Jordan Tanner |
713-497-2017 |
713-552-8811 |
eric_moses@oxy.com |
investors@oxy.com |
|
|
Dan
Winters |
|
515-240-8395 |
|
dan.winters@bherenewables.com |
|
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