The David Lin Report · Monday, August 31, 2026
Gianni Kovacevic believes that Schlumberger's commercialization of direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology is a significant development, calling it a "hinge of history." He explains that this innovation could enable the lithium market to grow by five times in the next 15 years and potentially produce refined lithium products at the wellhead, bypassing the need for Chinese refining.
“So what is this new greatest prize? Or this new hinge of history that the oil and gas industry has come up with? Schlumberger, which is the world's largest oil and gas service provider, they have come out and commercialized direct lithium extraction.”
“But I'm saying this is a hinge of history because it's going to enable the lithium market to grow as it should by five X in the next 15 years.”
“What's the holy grail though, David? They produce a lithium product at the wellhead that's already refined. It becomes lithium hydroxide or carbonate for the customer. It does not need to go to China, David. All this refining nonsense you hear about, that is the holy grail. That's what everyone's been trying to do. They've achieved it.”