SAUDI ARABIA —National Energy Services Reunited Corp. (NESR), through its NESR Environmental and Decarbonization Applications (NEDA) segment, has entered into an agreement with Aramco to deliver the Aramco 2027 Lithium Demonstration Project in Saudi Arabia. The agreement has a value of approximately USD 200 million and can run for up to five years.
The turnkey development is planned as Saudi Arabia’s first lithium project and will integrate pre-treatment, Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) and carbonation processes through NESR’s LiThara platform. The facility is designed for an annual output of 2,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium carbonate, with commissioning and production scheduled to begin in late 2027.
The project introduces an integrated lithium processing chain within Saudi Arabia, covering the treatment of brine feedstock, extraction of lithium and conversion into battery-grade lithium carbonate. Its planned capacity provides an initial commercial-scale reference for lithium production in the Kingdom and establishes infrastructure that could support further development of domestic lithium resources.
The development is relevant to the mining, chemicals, battery materials and energy industries because lithium carbonate is a key input for lithium-ion battery supply chains. For Saudi Arabia, domestic production could broaden the industrial base associated with battery materials while reducing reliance on imported processed lithium products for future downstream applications.
For businesses and investors, the agreement creates a defined project pathway around lithium extraction and processing in the Kingdom, with a multi-year commercial commitment and a targeted 2027 production start. The use of Direct Lithium Extraction also positions the project within a technology-driven segment of the lithium industry, where processing efficiency and the ability to scale production are important considerations for future projects.
NESR is an energy services company operating across the Middle East and North Africa, while Aramco is Saudi Arabia’s state-controlled integrated energy company. Their participation brings oilfield subsurface expertise and lithium extraction and processing technology into a project aimed at establishing domestic lithium production capacity.
