Department of Energy and Environment, Oil and Gas Commission preparing for lithium oversight

A worker stirs lithium with his hand at the SQM processing plant in Antofagasta, Chile, in this April 19, 2023 file photo. (AP/Rodrigo Abd)

Mining authorization for lithium and royalties are on the agenda for the next state Oil and Gas Commission meeting in December.

Energy giant Exxon Mobil and Canadian company Standard Lithium need approval from the commission for commercial mining of the metal, to be extracted from brine pumped to the surface from...