Kenya’s prolific Rift Valley geothermal fields, long harnessed for clean power, are now revealing a potential new bounty: significant concentrations of lithium extracted from the hot, mineral-rich brine brought to the surface. A groundbreaking pilot project, a collaboration between KenGen and international mineral technology firms, has successfully demonstrated the technical feasibility of filtering dissolved lithium from the geothermal wastewater before it is reinjected into the earth. This co-production method positions Kenya to potentially become a strategic supplier of the critical mineral essential for the global green energy transition, all without the massive land disturbance and water consumption associated with traditional hard-rock or evaporation pond mining.
The extraction process is a model of circular economy innovation. After the superheated geothermal steam is used to spin turbines for electricity generation, the leftover brine—previously seen as a waste product—is diverted through a specialized filtration system. This system uses advanced adsorption materials to selectively capture lithium ions from the complex chemical soup. The mined brine is then reinjected into the geothermal reservoir, maintaining the field’s pressure and sustainability. This method is considered green mining because it adds value to an existing industrial process, requires no fresh water for extraction, and produces minimal solid waste, creating a valuable commodity from a byproduct with a net-zero carbon footprint from the energy source.
The long-term implications for Kenya’s economy and its role in the global battery supply chain are substantial. If the pilot project is successfully scaled to commercial production, it could open a multi-billion dollar revenue stream alongside geothermal energy, making Kenya one of the very few producers of lithium in Africa. This would attract major investment in advanced mineral processing and position the country as a key player in powering the world’s electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems. While scaling the technology presents engineering and economic challenges, the successful proof-of-concept marks a paradigm shift, proving that Kenya’s geothermal wealth extends far beyond watts, potentially fueling a new, sustainable era of mineral-driven economic development.