Islamabad: The Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDC) has confirmed the presence of lithium in formation water from a high-temperature geothermal well in Sindh, with concentrations reportedly comparable to those found in some leading lithium-bearing geothermal brines globally.
The discovery was made during advanced geochemical analysis of produced formation water from a successfully tested well under OGDC’s pilot geothermal programme in Sindh. The development marks the first reported discovery of lithium of this nature in Pakistan.
Formation water is naturally occurring underground water trapped in rock formations alongside oil, gas and other minerals. When brought to the surface during production, it can serve as a potential source of lithium-rich brine.
According to OGDC officials cited in a report by The News, the lithium concentrations recorded in the Sindh well are comparable to higher-grade geothermal brines in Europe and North America, where lithium extraction projects are under commercial development.
The company said further technical assessment is required to determine the scale and commercial viability of the resource. OGDC has planned an expanded evaluation programme involving detailed brine chemistry analysis and resource confirmation studies in line with international standards.
OGDC’s technical teams are also working with international consultants to guide the next phase of exploration and assess the regional extent and economic potential of the lithium-bearing formation. Lithium is a critical mineral widely used in electric vehicle batteries and grid-scale energy storage, as well as consumer electronics, aerospace, defence and other industries.
If further studies establish commercially recoverable resources, the discovery could help Pakistan develop its critical mineral sector, attract investment and create new industrial opportunities.
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