Gazprom Neft and the Government of Orenburg Oblast have agreed to develop a joint project for extracting lithium from associated water of oil and gas fields.
The agreement was signed at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum by the company's Chairman of the Management Board Alexander Dukov and the region's Governor Evgeny Solntsev.
Industrial waters of oil and gas fields contain lithium, iodine, bromine and other valuable components for the glass, chemical, pharmaceutical and metallurgical industries. Lithium is one of the most industrially demanded elements for the production of batteries and alloys in metallurgy. At the same time, large-scale mining of this metal is not carried out in Russia, and a significant part of it is imported from abroad. Modern technologies make it possible to extract lithium and other valuable elements from produced water during oil field development and send them for further industrial processing.
The new agreement involves the implementation of a pilot project for the extraction of useful components at the Orenburg oil and gas condensate field, which will be put into operation in 2028. Gazprom Neft will develop engineering and technical documentation, select technological solutions and a site for the production complex. The Orenburg Oblast will assist the company in implementing the project to expand the resource base in the region and develop the strategically important direction of extracting useful components from formation waters.
Alexander Dukov, Chairman of the Management Board of Gazprom Neft:
'Technologies for extracting valuable components from formation waters open up a new source of raw materials for the Russian economy, significant for many industries. For the oil and gas industry, such solutions have several effects: they increase the profitability of working at mature fields and allow us to enter new markets with a highly demanded product. It is important that we are also solving the problem of import substitution, since most of the lithium consumed in the country is currently supplied from abroad. The project in the Orenburg Oblast is a pilot for us. In partnership with the region and with the support of the Ministry of Energy, we plan to create new technological solutions that can later be applied at other assets.'
Evgeny Solntsev, Governor of the Orenburg Oblast:
'The Orenburg Oblast is one of the most promising regions of Russia for lithium extraction from industrial waters. Our agreement with Gazprom Neft is an opportunity to launch a new direction of industrial development that relies on the strong resource base of the region and modern technologies. The lithium extraction project at the Orenburg oil and gas condensate field will help expand the processing of useful components, create conditions for the emergence of new competencies and strengthen the region's position as a territory where promising production initiatives are developing. We expect that joint work with Gazprom Neft will give the region a long-term economic effect.'
