We’re on a mission to become the world’s most valued metals and mining business – for the people who invest in us, the people we work and partner with, and the communities around us
Our business
We operate in 35 countries where our 60,000+ employees are working to find better ways to provide the materials the world needs
Our purpose in action
Continuous improvement and innovation are part of our DNA
Innovation
The need for innovation is greater than ever
We supply the metals and minerals used to help the world grow and decarbonise
Iron Ore
The primary raw material used to make steel, which is strong, long-lasting and cost-efficient
Lithium
The lightest of all metals, it is a key element needed for low-carbon technologies
Copper
Tough but malleable, corrosion-resistant and recyclable, and an excellent conductor of heat and transmitter of electricity
Bringing to market materials critical to urbanisation and the transition to a low-carbon economy
Oyu Tolgoi
One of the most modern, safe and sustainable operations in the world
Simandou Project
The world’s largest untapped high-grade iron ore deposit
Western Australia
While iron ore is central to our operations in WA, we have a diverse presence across the state, from salt, lithium, our diamond legacy and our promising copper-gold project
Providing materials the world needs in a responsible way
Climate Change
We’re targeting net zero emissions by 2050
Nature solutions
Our nature-based solutions projects complement the work we're doing to reduce our Scope 1 and 2 emissions
Enabling ESG transparency
Our STARTâ„¢ initiative tracks traceability and responsible production of ÌÇÐÄvlogÈë¿Úmaterials.
We aim to deliver superior returns to our shareholders while safeguarding the environment and meeting our obligations to wider society
2025 annual results
Announced on Thursday 19 February 2026
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Our podcast discussing what needs to happen to create a sustainable future for the everyday items we have come to rely on
Closing the aluminium loop
How we keep aluminium in use
Supporting the circular economy
We work and partner to keep resources in use for a more circular future
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One of the fastest and most efficient ways to produce lithium.
Lithium is one of the most critical minerals enabling electrification.
Global lithium demand is projected to grow by more than 13% per year through 2035, underpinned by accelerating demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and battery energy storage solutions (BESS), including those designed to support growth of AI data centers and renewable energy. As demand for lithium continues to increase, so does the need to produce it quickly and responsibly. We are well positioned to supply key markets, with one of the world’s largest and most diverse lithium product portfolios and leading capabilities across all major forms of lithium mining and processing.
Most commercially extracted lithium today comes from 2 main sources. The first is hard rock deposits, such as spodumene, largely from Australia, Brazil, Canada, China and several countries in Africa. The second source is brine deposits, where lithium is found in very salty, mineral-rich solutions. These brine deposits are found most notably in the Andes region known as the “Lithium Triangle,” which spans Argentina, Bolivia and Chile.
Hard rock lithium mining closely resembles the mining of iron ore, bauxite and other minerals.
Extracting lithium from brine deposits is very different, and there are 2 main methods: traditional evaporation ponds and direct lithium extraction (DLE). Our lithium portfolio includes leading operations using both methods.
Lithium extraction from brine using evaporation ponds begins by pumping brine from underground saline aquifers, or “salars,” into large, engineered ponds that can span hundreds of hectares. Over the course of a year or more, natural solar evaporation gradually removes water, leaving behind a concentrated brine containing lithium and other metals and minerals. During this process, the concentrate is also treated to remove impurities and progressively isolate lithium, which is then converted to lithium carbonate at an onsite processing plant.
At our operations, DLE replaces natural evaporation with a selective adsorption process, trading large ponds for a more compact, technology-based process. With DLE, brine is pumped from underground into a processing plant, where lithium selectively binds to an adsorbent material. Industrial water, pumped from underground aquifers and treated before use, is then used to separate the lithium ions from the adsorbent material in a process known as stripping, producing a concentrated lithium solution that’s ready for further purification and then conversion into lithium carbonate. After extraction, the remaining brine – which has essentially the same composition as it came out of the ground, minus the extracted lithium – is returned to the salar as part of a brine return management process (typically via reinfiltration or reinjection).
The biggest differences are speed, yield, purity and water conservation. With DLE, the full process – from brine to lithium carbonate – can take around a day, compared to a year or more using evaporation ponds. DLE also enables higher lithium recovery, extracting around 80 to 90% of lithium from brine, compared with around 50% using traditional pond-based methods. It also provides a higher purity feed, which can enable a simpler downstream processing step. And because DLE does not rely on solar evaporation to concentrate brine over time, a greater proportion of the liquid content in brine can be returned to the environment. However, DLE also comes with trade-offs. The process requires a more complex plant and typically uses more energy than pond-based systems. That is why we prioritise powering DLE operations with renewable energy whenever possible.
We are a pioneer in DLE. Our Fénix operation in Argentina has used a selective adsorption technology process at commercial scale for more than 30 years. DLE also represents the future of lithium production. While we use pond-based processes at Olaroz and Sal de Vida, which is currently ramping up production, we're prioritising DLE for future expansion projects.