For Exxon and other oil companies, lithium production offers the prospect of selling a new product with relatively little added cost. OTHER ACREAGESeparate from its Tetra partnership, Exxon also controls more than 100,000 acres in Arkansas from which it plans to begin lithium production by 2027, according to the source. It was not clear whether Exxon plans to expand lithium operations outside Arkansas. Like all oil producers, Exxon extracts water containing traces of lithium as part of fossil fuel production. The Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission, which overseas lithium operations in the state, has said it plans to hold hearings on the matter.

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Persons: Darren Woods, Mike Blake, Albemarle, Ernest Scheyder, Caroline Humer, David Gregorio Our Organizations: ExxonMobil, Milken, Global Conference, REUTERS, Exxon Mobil, Exxon, Tetra Technologies, EV, Reuters, Tetra, Chevron, Battery Metals, EnergySource Minerals, Energy, Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission, Benchmark Minerals, Thomson Locations: Beverly Hills , California, U.S, Arkansas, Florida, Texas, Albemarle, Louisiana, Los Angeles