Posted on 01/20/2026 2:49:56 PM PST by DFG
The first battery-grade lithium hydroxide refining facility in North America is now operational in Texas.
In May 2023, Gov. Greg Abbott, Tesla founder Elon Musk and other officials broke ground at what would become Tesla North America’s new lithium refinery in Robstown. By January 2026, it was fully operational.
The facility is the first of its kind to ever be built in North America, The Center Square reported. The facility is part of Abbott’s goal for Texas to lead in reducing reliance on China for critical minerals and technology. Under Abbott, Texas is leading in semiconductor manufacturing and development, state-led Artificial Intelligence development and nuclear energy expansion to counter Chinese dominance and threats, The Center Square reported.
Australia, Chile and China account for 90% of lithium production; China overwhelmingly refines the majority of lithium, controlling global supply, according to International Energy Agency and other reports. China also sources materials used for lithium-ion batteries mined through forced child labor in the Congo and Nigeria, raising human rights concerns.
Traditional lithium mining has created an environmental catastrophe in other countries. “Sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide used in lithium extraction penetrate the soil and water, poisoning ecosystems and endangering species. Deforestation, habitat destruction and water pollution further exacerbate the ecological toll. … The carbon dioxide and other greenhouse emissions that come with the process of lithium mining, extraction and overall production are worse for the climate than the production of fossil fuel-powered vehicles,” Mining Technology notes, citing multiple reports.
Tesla’s new lithium refinery is located in the Coastal Bend of Texas, a wildlife-rich region and primary destination of hunters, fishers, birders, ecologists, nature enthusiasts, tourists and vacationers who drive a multibillion-dollar ecotourism industry. The Nueces Delta Preserve includes more than 2,000 acres of wetlands and coastal prairies. There are more than 10 state parks and 150 miles of coastline and beaches in the Coastal Bend region.
Tesla’s refinery is “deploying a new technology platform that is inherently much more environmentally friendly and cleaner. It’s a simpler process. It's a less expensive process,” refinery manager Jason Bevan, said in a video depicting the process as migratory birds fly overhead. The process involves sustainably sourcing spodumene, a pyroxene mineral consisting of lithium aluminium inosilicate, needed to make batteries. The hard rock is run through a series of conveyance systems, goes through a kiln and cooler, an alkaline leach and additional purification steps to reach a crystallization form. It’s then used to produce battery grade lithium hydroxide.
“Our process is more sustainable than traditional methods and eliminates hazardous byproducts,” Tesla says. Instead of leaching hazardous biproducts into the environment, Tesla’s facility is producing a biproduct of analcime, reusable for concrete production.
It’s being produced at a time when “There is an increasing need for supplementary cementitious materials to ensure the sustainability of concrete production,” the Case Studies in Construction Materials Journal states. “Analcime residues from lithium production can be recycled in eco-friendly concrete.”
Facility production expanded at lightning speed. “We've achieved the fastest time to market for this first of its kind technology.” Bevins said the new facility will enable “regionalizing supply chains for battery minerals and materials,” provide long-term jobs, cut emissions and “usher in energy independence for North America.”
Tesla began expanding operations in Texas in 2021 during the COVID-lockdown era after Musk ran into roadblocks with California lawmakers and regulators, The Center Square reported.
At an event in Houston, Abbott touted Tesla’s expansion in Texas as a sign of Texas’ economic growth and business friendly environment. He described how Musk discussed his plans to build a mile long gigafactory and have vehicles roll out in 18 months. A deal was made and Tesla broke ground in June 2020. “Eighteen months later, in December 2021, vehicles began rolling off the floor at his new mile long Tesla factory in Austin,” Abbott said. “Tesla was able to build an entire giga factory in 18 months but in California, Musk still would not have his first permit.”
Musk next moved most of his operations out of California to Texas, including relocating the headquarters of Tesla, X, SpaceX, the Boring Company and Neuralink.
“Musk and others understand Texas’ pro-business environment,” Abbott said. “Texas truly is attracting the best and brightest from across the entire world to come to our state.”
During the COVID lockdown era, from February 2020 to December 2022, Texas was responsible for 35% of the total net increase in job creation in the United States, the Economist reported. Texas representing 10% of the U.S. population but 35% of new job creation was unprecedented, Abbott said.
Since then, over the next three years, Texas has continued to lead the U.S. in job creation every month, The Center Square has reported. Now, Texas has the first lithium refinery in North America.
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” sustainably sourcing spodumene”
We grow lots of those spods here in Idaho. Open a refinery here!
When you start looking at all the different rare earth elements (REEs) that our manufacturing and infrastructure depends on you become concerned after realizing how little of those are mined in the U.S.
I didn’t realize there were so many of them. Hubby and I have recently invested in several companies in the U.S. who either currently mine/produce those REEs or are working on doing so in the future.
There are some that are dirt cheap at the moment but have great growth potential so we are buying a few stocks in several of them and figure the grandkids will benefit.
For instance did you know we really use a lot of vanadium* in manufacturing?
But most of the world’s vanadium comes from a few key countries, primarily China, Russia, and South Africa, often as a byproduct of iron and steel production, with China being the dominant producer and consumer.
In the U.S.:
Energy Fuels: Operates the White Mesa Mill in Utah, the only conventional uranium/vanadium mill in the U.S., and has standby mines, producing vanadium from existing resources and uranium mining streams.
Recycling: AMG Vanadium in Ohio and Gladieux Metals Recycling in Texas process spent catalysts to recover vanadium.
*Vanadium (V, atomic number 23) is a strong, steel-blue transition metal valued for enhancing steel’s strength, corrosion resistance, and hardness, making it vital for tools, automotive parts, and construction. It also serves as a catalyst, in batteries, and has potential therapeutic uses, though high exposure can cause health issues. Discovered in the early 19th century, it was named after the Norse goddess of beauty, Vanadis, due to its colorful compounds.
Unfortunately, the USA is not blessed with much in the way of REE ore.
cool. Maybe Scotty can get his Lithium Crystals from here a couple hundred years from now.
I just asked Grok to give me a breakdown of how Elon’s new lithium refinery eliminates the toxic waste; I was impressed with what I learned.
With the promise of new non-lithium batteries that are safer, lighter, have a higher energy density, and charge quicker, why is anyone investing in this technology? That’s like building a new steam engine factory when diesel electric locomotives have been replacing them.
The President of Congo has sent President Trump a list of state-owned mining projects for the United States to consider as part of a minerals deal.
“The shortlist includes Kisenge’s manganese, gold and cassiterite licences, Gecamines’ Mutoshi copper-cobalt project and germanium-processing venture, Sokimo’s four gold permits, Cominiere’s lithium licences, and Sakima’s coltan, gold and wolframite assets” - Reuters
China currently controls much of Congo’s mining activities. Trump is putting an end to their monopoly by diversifying America’s supply chain for everything. For example, Rwanda, Congo’s neighbor, just recently became a strategic tungsten & tantalum supplier for the United States, with sales skyrocketing 213% in just the last few months. Both minerals are essential for our defense industry.
The Art of the Deal is upon us.
They should build the new asylums next door.
Maybe lithium emissions would be therapeutic.
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