Groundbreaking discovery: Hungary will become Lithium great power?

Lithium is the key element in batteries. It is also used in other modern industries such as the aviation industry and glass manufacturing. Turns out MOL found a big locality of lithium in Pusztaföldvár. Could this be the big breakthrough for the Hungarian economy?

This pilot project aims to use the latest technology in the industry, making the extraction process that much more environmentally friendly. The newest method that the group is experimenting with is called separation technology. The techniques used in this industry so far were tediously long and extremely challenging for the environment. However Pusztaföldvár is prepared for the challenge, according to Archibald Schubert, MOL’s Research and Production Director.

The Lithium Project

The location was assessed by professionals since 2019 and deemed worthy of a try. The Lithium Project started with simple water sample assessments. After finding a surprising amount of lithium in Pusztaföldvár’s waters, they started to collaborate with other teams to launch the project.

The production site the teams have prepared in Pusztaföldvár is optimal for more reasons. Firstly, the obviously high lithium levels make it an extremely good site. Second, many of the workers live nearby, since Pusztaföldvár is a miner hub. There are actual miner dynasties there, with more than a century-long history, providing a steady workforce.

Modern Technologies

The above mentioned groundbreaking modern technologies differ significantly from the previously used methods. The so far widely practiced traditional technologies, such as surface mining and distillation, were affecting the nearby soil badly.

In contrast, the technology MOL is looking to test out at Pusztaföldvár is much more friendly. It takes only five steps to extract lithium from the deep water and it forms a cycle.

First, they separate the water from the oil they already extracted from existing wells. Then, they extract the produced oil, at this point the water is already in the lithium separation unit. They extract the lithium from the water. As a last step, they re-inject the water into the original layer through already existing wells. Using this new method, MOL aims to utilise their great expertise in the oil industry for the benefit of renewable energy.

The impact

This discovery might have give a very needed push to the Hungarian economy. Although experts warned that the tests determining the quality and quantity of the lithium are still ongoing, there are signs to be hopeful. A lithium mine in Hungary could mean reducing reliance on foreign sources, such as China. Lithium is gaining a more and more critical role in future technologies, which means that Hungary could potentially enter the playing field of commercial circulation and establish a presence in the market.

Read more about the Hungarian economy HERE.

Read more about how lithium is used in modern industries HERE.