Rio Tinto’s Lithium Leap: Faster, Cleaner, and Game-Changing

Mining group aims to accelerate lithium supply using cleaner DLE tech amid growing global EV demand 

11 Mar 2025

Rio Tinto has acquired Arcadium Lithium, marking a significant step in its push to modernise lithium production and reduce environmental impact. The move centres on deploying Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE), a method that bypasses traditional evaporation ponds in favour of faster, more sustainable processing.

Conventional lithium mining, which relies on months-long brine evaporation, is increasingly seen as too slow and resource-intensive to meet the demands of a rapidly electrifying transport sector. In contrast, DLE can extract lithium in days, using chemical treatments that limit water use and land disruption.

“This isn’t just a resource acquisition, it’s a technological leap,” said Carlos Ruiz, a Santiago-based mining consultant. “With DLE, Rio Tinto is securing access to cleaner lithium at industrial scale.”

The company’s adoption of DLE comes as electric vehicle growth fuels a surge in lithium demand. Industry analysts have pointed to supply constraints as a major risk to meeting climate targets, especially as regulators and manufacturers tighten emissions standards and push for sustainable sourcing.

By reducing environmental damage, DLE could make previously marginal reserves economically viable. The technology is particularly suited to regions with limited water access or fragile ecosystems, potentially expanding Rio Tinto’s global extraction footprint.

However, DLE still faces commercial challenges. Its effectiveness varies by site, requiring project-specific engineering and process calibration. While pilot projects are promising, large-scale implementation remains limited.

Even so, the Arcadium acquisition signals a broader trend. As battery materials become strategic assets, major producers are accelerating the shift toward faster, cleaner extraction methods. Rio Tinto’s bet on DLE positions it as an early mover in the next phase of the global energy transition.