Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar announced a new initiative to recover lithium from boron mine waste, highlighting its strategic importance for electric vehicle batteries and other key technologies.
Bayraktar confirmed that state-owned Eti Maden will establish an industrial-scale lithium carbonate production facility. Once operational, the plant is expected to significantly increase Türkiye’s lithium supply capacity.
He added that planning is underway to activate a pilot production line. Patent applications have already been filed nationally, along with international applications in Argentina, the United States, and Serbia.
Türkiye, which holds 73% of the world’s boron reserves, remains the global leader in boron production. In 2024, the country achieved sales of 2.5 million tons of boron products, generating $1.3 billion in revenue, 97% of which came from exports.