Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced the “largest” lithium refinery in the United States is “now operational.” The largest Lithium refinery in America is now operational https://t.co/CLVlISRCy4 — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 14, 2026 The refinery, which is the “first battery-grade lithium hydroxide refining facility in North America,” is now operational in Texas, The Center Square reports. “Our Lithium Refinery ushers in energy independence for North America. Regionalized access to critical battery minerals brings jobs, cuts emissions & helps accelerate our mission,” Tesla North America stated. Check it out: Our Lithium Refinery ushers in energy independence for North America Regionalized access to critical battery minerals brings jobs, cuts emissions & helps accelerate our mission pic.twitter.com/zy8eFX7i3c — Tesla North America (@tesla_na) January 14, 2026 More from The Center Square: In May 2023, Gov. Greg Abbott, Tesla founder Elon Musk and other officials broke ground at what would become Tesla North America’s new lithium refinery in Robstown. By January 2026, it was fully operational. The facility is the first of its kind to ever be built in North America, The Center Square reported. The facility is part of Abbott’s goal for Texas to lead in reducing reliance on China for critical minerals and technology. Under Abbott, Texas is leading in semiconductor manufacturing and development, state-led Artificial Intelligence development and nuclear energy expansion to counter Chinese dominance and threats, The Center Square reported. Australia, Chile and China account for 90% of lithium production; China overwhelmingly refines the majority of lithium, controlling global supply, according to International Energy Agency and other reports. China also sources materials used for lithium-ion batteries mined through forced child labor in the Congo and Nigeria, raising human rights concerns. Traditional lithium mining has created an environmental catastrophe in other countries. “Sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide used in lithium extraction penetrate the soil and water, poisoning ecosystems and endangering species. Deforestation, habitat destruction and water pollution further exacerbate the ecological toll. … The carbon dioxide and other greenhouse emissions that come with the process of lithium mining, extraction and overall production are worse for the climate than the production of fossil fuel-powered vehicles,” Mining Technology notes, citing multiple reports. Tesla’s new lithium refinery is located in the Coastal Bend of Texas, a wildlife-rich region and primary destination of hunters, fishers, birders, ecologists, nature enthusiasts, tourists and vacationers who drive a multibillion-dollar ecotourism industry. The Nueces Delta Preserve includes more than 2,000 acres of wetlands and coastal prairies. There are more than 10 state parks and 150 miles of coastline and beaches in the Coastal Bend region. This year, @Tesla broke ground on a new lithium refinery in Robstown. I was proud to join @ElonMusk to celebrate this investment in South Texas. Texas remains the home of innovation, attracting companies large and small to invest in our state. pic.twitter.com/22m0S2fi14 — Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) December 28, 2023 “Tesla built the most advanced lithium refinery in the world and it is very clean,” Musk commented. Tesla built the most advanced lithium refinery in the world and it is very clean https://t.co/gvZP5NnNIO — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 15, 2026 OilPrice.com shared further details: The refinery converts spodumene ore directly into battery-grade lithium hydroxide, in a first-of-its-kind process in North America. Tesla uses a new technology platform that allows a cleaner, simpler, and cheaper process to obtain battery-grade lithium from the raw material, spodumene ore, says Jason Bevan, Site Manager for Tesla’s Gulf Coast Lithium Refinery. Tesla says it sustainably sources spodumene and brings it to site where it runs it through a series of conveyance systems, takes it through a kiln and a cooler. From there, the material is taken through an alkaline leech and additional purification steps, and then into crystallization to produce battery-grade lithium hydroxide. “Our process is more sustainable than traditional methods and eliminates hazardous byproducts and instead produces a co-product named anhydrite used in concrete mixes,” a refinery employee says in the Tesla video. Tesla notes that this refinery enables it to have access to the critical minerals for energy storage, for battery manufacturing, and ultimately for EV growth. The first-of-its-kind lithium refinery in North America also enables Tesla to accelerate its mission by “regionalizing supply chains for battery minerals and materials, by providing jobs, by cutting emissions from transportation that’s required for those supply chains.