Rosnedra Expects the Start of Lithium Production at the Kovykta Deposit
Rosnedra expects the start of lithium production at the Kovykta gas condensate field in the next 2-3 years in case of successful implementation of industrial technology for the extraction of lithium from bottom water, Rosnedra head Evgeny Petrov said in an interview with RIA Novosti on the sidelines of SPIEF.
“The current situation may change in the next … 2-3 years. It is during this period that commercial production of lithium will begin at the Polmostundrovskoye deposit, the license for which was issued at the beginning of this year. In the same period, we expect the start of lithium mining at the Zavitinskoye deposit and Kovyktinskoye gas condensate field, in case of successful implementation of industrial technology for the extraction of lithium from bottom water,” Petrov said.
In February 2022, Gazprom, the Irkutsk Oil Company (INC) and the Ministry of Industry and Trade signed a roadmap for the implementation of a lithium mining project at the Kovykta deposit in the Irkutsk region from formation brines.
The Kovykta gas condensate field is the largest field in the East of Russia in terms of gas reserves and belongs to the unique category. It is the base field for the Irkutsk gas production center being formed by Gazprom and the resource base for the Power of Siberia gas pipeline. Development drilling at the Kovykta field began in July 2019, and the official start of commercial production took place in December 2022.
