NESR Secures $200 Million Aramco Contract for Saudi Arabia's First Direct Lithium Extraction Project

Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, October 8, 2026: National Energy Services Reunited Corp. (NESR) has secured an agreement worth approximately $200 million with Saudi Aramco to execute the Aramco 2027 Lithium Demonstration Project, marking a significant development in Saudi Arabia's efforts to establish domestic lithium production capabilities.

The contract, which extends for up to five years, will be implemented through NESR Environmental and Decarbonization Applications (NEDA), the company's specialised business segment focusing on environmental technologies and energy transition solutions.

The project will be developed on a turnkey basis and is designed to produce approximately 2,000 tonnes per annum of battery-grade lithium carbonate, a critical raw material used in electric vehicle batteries and stationary energy storage systems. Commissioning and commencement of production are targeted for late 2027.

Under the agreement, NESR will deploy its proprietary LiThara technology platform, which integrates brine pretreatment, direct lithium extraction (DLE) and lithium carbonation processes into a unified production system.

The technology is designed to process lithium-bearing brines, extract lithium and convert it into battery-grade lithium carbonate. Its modular configuration is intended to support efficient processing, scalability and competitive operating costs.

The development will combine Aramco's extensive subsurface exploration and reservoir expertise with NESR's lithium extraction technologies and operational experience in Saudi Arabia's energy sector.

Unlike conventional lithium production methods involving mineral extraction or evaporation ponds, direct lithium extraction technologies are designed to selectively recover lithium from brine resources through specialised processing systems.

The project represents an important step in evaluating the commercial potential of lithium resources associated with Saudi Arabia's subsurface brine deposits.

For NESR, the contract also expands its participation beyond conventional oilfield services into critical minerals processing and industrial decarbonisation technologies.

The development aligns with Saudi Arabia's broader industrial diversification ambitions and its strategy to establish domestic capabilities in advanced materials, battery manufacturing and energy transition technologies.

Lithium is increasingly important for electric mobility and renewable energy storage, making domestic extraction capabilities strategically relevant to the Kingdom's emerging battery materials supply chain.

The proposed facility is expected to provide an operational demonstration of integrated lithium extraction and processing technologies, potentially supporting the development of larger production facilities if the technical and commercial performance proves successful.

The announcement also highlights opportunities for specialised engineering, process equipment, modular systems, instrumentation and industrial technology suppliers involved in emerging critical mineral projects.

With the targeted commissioning scheduled for late 2027, the project is set to become an important demonstration of Saudi Arabia's efforts to diversify its resource development activities while strengthening its position in energy transition industries.

Project Snapshot