By Russell Gold | October 1, 2024

Dr. John Burba may have invented direct lithium extraction nearly three decades ago, but 2024 was the year his vision finally came to life. The East Texas chemist and founder of IBAT beat out industry giants to launch the first commercial DLE operation in North America — using a modular plant he designed, packed onto 35 trucks and reassembled in the Utah desert.

While Burba would have preferred to kick things off in Texas’ lithium-rich Smackover region — closer to rigs, battery factories and his own backyard — the opportunity in Utah moved faster. There, IBAT struck a deal to extract lithium from decades-old magnesium waste, producing enough material each year for thousands of EV batteries.

Burba’s not done yet. From his ranch near Texarkana, surrounded by cows, horses and an 85-pound mutt named Ruger, he’s eyeing East Texas as the next big lithium frontier, even rivaling South America’s so-called Lithium Triangle.

“I believe it absolutely will be,” he said. “And IBAT will be ready.”

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