Eni announced the acquisition of a 25% stake in Black Giant SpA, the Chilean subsidiary of EnergyX responsible for developing a lithium project located near the Salar de Punta Negra in northern Chile.
The investment, valued at $225 million and structured in several stages, will accelerate the development of an operation based on Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology, designed to produce lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) with lower water impact compared to traditional methods.
Direct extraction redefines lithium production engineering
For decades, much of the lithium obtained from brines was produced through evaporation ponds, a process that requires extensive surface areas, long concentration times, and high water losses due to evaporation.
DLE technology modifies this approach by employing selective materials capable of extracting lithium ions directly from the brine, subsequently allowing the fluid to be reinjected into the reservoir.
This process significantly reduces production times, improves resource recovery, and decreases surface occupation, making it one of the technologies with the greatest potential for the sustainable development of critical minerals.
In the case of the Black Giant project, EnergyX will implement a closed-loop system with complete reinjection of the extracted brine, a strategy aimed at minimizing alterations to the hydrogeological balance of the salt flat.
Oil industry experience and new applications in lithium mining
In addition to its equity stake, Eni will contribute technical and operational capabilities developed over decades in the hydrocarbon exploration and production sector.
Although oil and lithium belong to different industries, both share challenges related to subsurface characterization, well drilling, fluid management, reservoir simulation, and brine reinjection.
This knowledge transfer enables the application of consolidated reservoir engineering methodologies to a new generation of projects dedicated to supplying essential minerals for the energy transition.
Process engineering drives critical mineral generation
Growing global lithium demand is accelerating the development of processes capable of increasing production efficiency and reducing the environmental impact associated with brine exploitation.
Technologies such as direct extraction represent a significant evolution compared to conventional methods, by combining materials chemistry, process engineering, automation, and hydrogeological modeling to optimize resource utilization.
In this context, projects like Black Giant demonstrate how technological innovation is beginning to redefine competitiveness within the global lithium industry.
Source: https://www.eni.com/
