Sheinbaum’s Proposal to Extract Lithium Sparks Concerns

Claudia Sheinbaum, presidential candidate for Mexico's ruling party MORENA, has proposed that geologists from the Mexican Petroleum Institute (IMP) develop a new technology for extracting lithium from clay. This process, which has not yet been fully developed, is essential for lithium extraction in Mexico. However, her proposal has raised several questions among experts.

Armando Alatorre, Vice President, CIMMGM, said that while the IMP is a research center, it is specialized in oil, not mining, and its ability to develop this technology is uncertain. He also questioned whether the task should be assigned to the IMP or the Science, Humanities, and Technology Council (CONAHCYT), as the government had previously mentioned that CONAHCYT would undertake this work, as reported by BNAmericas.

In July 2023, President López Obrador announced that CONAHCYT had begun working on a method to separate clay from lithium in Sonora, stating it was a technology previously only held by the Chinese, and that CONAHCYT had made 95% progress.

Sergio Correa, an Independent professional, suggested that the task might be more suitable for the Institute of Geology of UNAM, as it has the National Laboratory of Geochemistry and Mineralogy, which specializes in these studies. He also pointed out that the IMP's mission is to support PEMEX technologically, primarily in oil-related activities.

Alatorre emphasized the importance of sufficient funding for research and questioned the availability of economic resources for this project. He stated that research, regardless of the topic, requires substantial investment and that it does not guarantee success.