The company last fall announced its long-anticipated plan to filter lithium from the Smackover brine formation that flows under Arkansas.

Lithium prices have dropped more than 80% in the past year.

The government will sell rights to about 20 blocks of land to explore for critical metals.

Exxon Mobil and Albemarle are amongst those gathering in Little Rock this week.

The gap in production for energy transition metals provides an opportunity for Canada.

Canada plans to reduce the time to approve mining permits by better funding the regulatory agency to get rid of paperwork backlogs.

The IEA's move comes as countries escalate efforts to cut emissions.