Oil Field Waste Could Fuel a New Industry In North Dakota

(Photo by Jacob Orledge/North Dakota Monitor)

(North Dakota Monitor) – An unwanted byproduct of North Dakota’s oil field could be the key to unlocking a new industry in the state within the next few years.

An international company is proposing to begin extracting lithium, a key component of batteries produced for smartphones and other technology, from produced water by the end of 2027. It’s one of at least four similar projects in development in the state.

Troy Coons, chair of the Northwest Landowners Association, is urging companies to involve affected property owners from the start.

“None of this happens without landowners,” Coons said during a Bismarck conference this week focused on emerging industries. “We believe landowners deserve a seat at the table.”