Element3 Launches Lithium Carbonate Facility in Texas Permian Basin, Strengthening U.S. Critical Minerals Supply Chain

Texas continues to expand its role in the U.S. critical minerals supply chain with the inauguration of the Element3 Resources Permian Basin Lithium Extraction and Carbonate Facility, a project focused on producing lithium carbonate from oilfield wastewater.

Governor Greg Abbott joined federal, state, and industry leaders for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, highlighting the facility’s strategic importance for domestic production of materials essential to batteries, advanced manufacturing, and national defense applications.

Lithium Production in Texas’ Permian Basin

Located in the Permian Basin, one of the most productive energy regions in North America, the Element3 facility represents a new approach to mineral extraction. The company focuses on recovering lithium and other critical materials from oil and gas wastewater—an underutilized resource generated through traditional energy production.

By transforming oilfield byproducts into lithium carbonate, Element3 introduces a model that integrates conventional energy infrastructure with advanced mineral processing. This approach supports a more diversified domestic supply chain for materials required in battery storage systems, electric mobility, grid stabilization technologies, and defense manufacturing.

Advancing U.S. Energy and Industrial Security

The facility comes online at a time when the United States is prioritizing domestic production of critical minerals to reduce dependence on foreign supply. Lithium carbonate is a core input for battery manufacturing and plays a growing role in energy storage and high-tech industrial applications.

During the ceremony, state and federal officials emphasized the broader economic and strategic implications of scaling critical mineral production within U.S. borders. Strengthening domestic capacity contributes to supply chain resilience, industrial competitiveness, and long-term energy security.

Participants included Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Technology Commercialization Director and Chief Commercialization Officer Anthony Pugliese, U.S. Space Force Major General John M. Olson (Ret.), and Element3 Founder and CEO Hood Whitson.

Integrating Energy Infrastructure with Advanced Manufacturing

For investors evaluating the evolution of the Texas industrial landscape, the Element3 project signals the convergence of traditional energy expertise with next-generation materials production. Leveraging existing oil and gas infrastructure to extract high-value minerals positions Texas as a strategic hub not only for hydrocarbons, but also for the raw materials underpinning advanced manufacturing and energy transition technologies.

The facility strengthens the Permian Basin’s profile beyond oil production, expanding its role into critical mineral processing—an area increasingly tied to battery manufacturing, defense systems, and domestic technology supply chains.

As demand for lithium continues to grow across automotive, energy storage, and industrial sectors, projects such as Element3’s lithium carbonate plant reinforce Texas’ expanding footprint in North America’s evolving energy and manufacturing ecosystem.