The Oil and Gas Development Company Limited has partnered with the Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology to develop commercial scale technology for extracting lithium from geothermal brines following the discovery of high grade lithium in Sindh. The agreement marks the next stage in the state owned exploration and production company’s efforts to assess the commercial potential of lithium resources identified through advanced geochemical analysis. The discovery was made from formation water collected from the Wahid Bakhsh Well in Khairpur district, where laboratory analysis recorded lithium concentrations of 275 milligrams per liter.
The concentration identified at the Wahid Bakhsh Well is more than three times the international benchmark of approximately 90 milligrams per liter generally considered suitable for commercial evaluation. The result has increased interest in the potential presence of lithium bearing geothermal formations across Sindh and has prompted OGDCL to expand its exploration programme. The company is now assessing additional locations to determine the size and distribution of the lithium bearing formations and whether further exploration can identify deposits with commercial potential.
Officials familiar with the development said OGDCL has identified between eight and 10 additional wells for geothermal brine exploration. These wells will be examined as part of the broader effort to establish the extent of lithium resources in the region. Further exploration will be important because the discovery at the Wahid Bakhsh Well alone does not establish the existence of commercially recoverable reserves. Additional technical work will be required to determine the consistency of lithium concentrations, the size of the resource and the feasibility of extracting the mineral at an economically viable scale.
Under the agreement, OGDCL and the Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology will work on developing indigenous technology for lithium extraction from geothermal brines. The objective is to create a domestic technical capability that could eventually support commercial scale recovery if future exploration confirms sufficient resources. The partnership will combine OGDCL’s experience in exploration and subsurface operations with the technical and scientific capabilities of the Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology to investigate extraction methods suited to Pakistan’s geothermal brine conditions.
OGDCL has also initiated a wider evaluation programme covering several technical and commercial aspects of the potential resource. The programme includes detailed studies of brine chemistry, reservoir mapping, resource confirmation and economic feasibility assessments. These studies are intended to establish a clearer understanding of the lithium bearing formations and determine whether the resource can support future commercial production. The company has also engaged international consultants to assist with future resource estimates and technical studies, bringing additional expertise to the evaluation process.
The discovery has generated interest beyond the exploration sector because lithium is a key component in rechargeable batteries. The mineral is widely used in batteries powering electric vehicles, energy storage systems, smartphones, laptops and other electronic devices. Electric vehicle batteries account for a significant share of global lithium demand, while consumption is expected to increase as electric mobility and renewable energy storage expand internationally. A commercially viable domestic lithium resource could therefore have implications for Pakistan’s emerging electric vehicle and energy storage industries.
The Heavy Mechanical Complex is also evaluating the potential use of locally produced lithium for electric vehicle batteries and defence related applications. Sources said the organization is planning a large scale electric vehicle manufacturing facility, which could create additional strategic interest in developing a domestic supply of lithium. Local availability of the mineral could eventually support battery related manufacturing and reduce dependence on imported raw materials if commercial extraction becomes feasible.
Beyond batteries, lithium has applications across several industrial sectors. The mineral is used in aerospace and defence industries as well as specialty chemicals, glass, ceramics, industrial lubricants, aluminum alloys and pharmaceutical products. Its importance to advanced manufacturing and energy storage has led countries around the world to focus on securing reliable supplies of lithium and other critical minerals. Pakistan’s potential discovery in Sindh could therefore provide an opportunity to explore a previously underdeveloped area of the country’s mineral and energy resource base.
The lithium identified at the Wahid Bakhsh Well is particularly notable because its concentration is comparable with higher grade geothermal brine projects being developed in parts of Europe and North America, according to OGDCL. However, concentration alone does not determine whether a deposit can be developed commercially. Factors including the volume of brine available, extraction efficiency, reservoir characteristics, processing costs, infrastructure requirements and environmental considerations will all influence the eventual feasibility of the resource.
Geothermal brine extraction also differs from conventional lithium mining. Instead of extracting lithium from hard rock deposits, the process involves recovering lithium dissolved in geothermal fluids. This approach can potentially combine geothermal energy production with lithium recovery, allowing the same resource to support both energy generation and mineral extraction. The possibility of recovering lithium alongside geothermal energy has contributed to growing international interest in geothermal brine projects as countries seek alternative sources of critical minerals.
For Pakistan, developing an indigenous lithium extraction capability could eventually support several strategic objectives. A commercially viable resource could contribute to domestic battery manufacturing, electric vehicle development, energy storage and other advanced industrial applications. It could also create opportunities for technology development, specialised employment and mineral exports. However, these potential benefits remain dependent on the results of ongoing exploration and feasibility studies.
OGDCL has cautioned that commercial lithium production remains several years away and will depend on the outcome of scientific, technical and economic evaluations. The company will need to confirm the scale of recoverable resources and establish whether lithium can be extracted efficiently and economically from the geothermal brines. Further drilling and resource assessment will therefore be critical before any decision is taken on large scale commercial development.
The partnership between OGDCL and the Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology nevertheless represents an important step towards assessing Pakistan’s lithium potential. With additional wells identified for exploration, international consultants supporting technical studies and domestic institutions working on extraction technology, the country is beginning to build a more detailed understanding of its geothermal lithium resources. If future exploration confirms commercially recoverable reserves, the discovery could strengthen Pakistan’s position in critical mineral supply chains while creating new opportunities across electric vehicles, battery technology, energy storage and industrial manufacturing.
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