Possible building of Tesla’s lithium refinery plant in Texas is under discussions

As it became known recently, Tesla is pondering a possible construction of a plant aimed at refining lithium hydroxide, which is used in batteries. The coast of the Gulf of Mexico in Texas is considered as a potential plant location.

The U.S. electric car maker calls the could-be plant the first production site of this kind in the country, and a probable production expansion was also announced. Said expansion, if conducted, would include capacities for processing and refining other kinds of resources used for battery production.

At the planned production plant, Tesla is going to employ an innovative method which implies the use of more eco-friendly reagents in comparison with a default method of lithium refinery. The innovative method also involves the creation of byproduct materials suitable for further use. The final product of the process, which is lithium hydroxide, is planned to be packed and sent to other production sites, where it will be used for making Tesla batteries. The transportation is intended to be organized by rail or truck. By doing so, the company hopes to maintain the important supply chains for batteries of different kinds, such as large-scale ones and batteries used for electric cars.

A variety of production elements were named among the planned objectives for the improvement, with the most important ones being the support infrastructure, cleaning equipment, production buildings, research lab facilities, utility distribution systems, railway infrastructure, cooling towers, security systems (including fire control ones), wastewater treatment system, associated manufacturing processes and equipment required for producing electro-vehicles and batteries, and other objects, such as loading docks and drifts, parking lots, warehouses, and similar facilities.

If the location for the intended plant is approved, the initial construction works might be started in the last quarter of the current year. In this case, the commercial operating of the object is planned to be started by the end of 2024.