ExxonMobil published its updated 2030 Corporate Plan, which keeps the company’s “dual challenge” approach. The oil giant says it will supply reliable energy while cutting emissions. The update raises lower-emission spending, while also forecasting higher oil and gas production to 2030.

Billions in Motion: ExxonMobil’s Financial and Production Targets

ExxonMobil plans about $20 billion of lower-emission capital between 2025 and 2030. It says the $20 billion targets carbon capture and storage (CCS), hydrogen, and lithium projects.

The company projects ~5.5 million oil-equivalent barrels per day (Moebd) of upstream production by 2030. Exxon also forecasts ~$25 billion of earnings growth and ~$35 billion of cash-flow growth by 2030 versus 2024 on a constant price-and-margin basis.

The oil major gives a range for cash capex. It shows $27–29 billion for 2026 and $28–32 billion annually for 2027–2030. The updated plan highlights about $100 billion in major investments planned for 2026–2030. It notes these projects could bring in around $50 billion in total earnings during that time.

Low-Carbon Plan: $20B for CCS, Hydrogen and Lithium

ExxonMobil describes the $20 billion as focused on three business lines:

• CCS networks and hubs for third parties.
• Hydrogen production and integrated fuels.
• Lithium supply for batteries.

The company says roughly 60% of the $20 billion will support lower-emissions services to third-party customers. It estimates new low-carbon businesses could deliver ~$13 billion of earnings potential by 2040 if markets and policies develop as expected.

Exxon’s updated Corporate 2030 Plan lists current and contracted CCS volumes. The company reports about 9 million tonnes per annum (MTA) of CO₂ capture capacity under contract for its U.S. Gulf Coast network. Key project entries include:

• Linde — Beaumont, TX: ~2.2 MTA CO₂, start-up 2026.
• CF Industries — Donaldsonville, LA: ~2.0 MTA, start-up 2026.
• NG3 (Gillis, LA): ~1.2 MTA, start-up 2026.
• Lake Charles Methanol II: ~1.3 MTA, start-up 2030.
• Nucor — Convent, LA: ~0.8 MTA, start-up 2026.

The plan also highlights a proposed 1.0 GW low-carbon power/data center project paired with ~3.5 MTA capture, with a planned final investment decision in 2026. Exxon calls its Gulf Coast network an “end-to-end CCS system” and says scale depends on permitting and supportive policy.

• SEE MORE: ExxonMobil’s (XOM Stock) Wild Ride: Gas Discovery, $14M Pollution Fine, and Carbon Storage Push

Counting Carbon: How Exxon Tracks Methane and Emissions Cuts

ExxonMobil says it is making measurable progress on emissions. The company reports faster-than-expected cuts in several intensity metrics. It states it has already met key 2030 intensity milestones and now expects to meet its methane-intensity target by 2026, four years early.

The company repeats its long-term net-zero framing for operated assets. Exxon’s plan targets Scope 1 and Scope 2 net-zero for its operated assets by 2050. It also sets a nearer target of net-zero Scope 1 and 2 for its operated Permian assets by 2035.

These commitments focus on emissions the company directly controls. They do not include a Scope 3 net-zero pledge for customer use of sold products. Exxon underscores that these goals depend on technology, markets, and supportive policy.

On operational achievements, Exxon highlights large cuts in routine flaring and improved equipment standards. The new plan states that the company reduced corporate flaring intensity by over 60% from 2016 to 2024.

• As shown in the chart below, ExxonMobil’s operated-basis greenhouse gas profile shows a clear decline in Scopes 1 and 2 between the 2016 baseline and 2024.

Also, by 2024, Scope 1 emissions dropped to 91 million metric tons CO₂e. Scope 2 emissions (location-based) reached 9 million metric tons CO₂e. Together, this totals 100 million metric tons CO₂e. This is about a 15% reduction from 2016 based on operations.

For the same period, Exxon’s Scope 1+2 emissions intensity dropped from 27.5 to 22.6 metric tons CO₂e per 100 metric tons produced. This shows they are decarbonizing operations, even as production has changed.​

The company also hit other flaring and GHG intensity goals ahead of schedule. These outcomes came from replacing old equipment, tightening operations, and limiting routine venting and flaring.

Exxon lists four categories of near-term reduction actions it is scaling up:

• Methane control: wider deployment of leak-detection and infrared cameras, more frequent inspections, and accelerated repairs.
• Flaring reduction: operational changes and stricter shutdown protocols to cut routine flaring.
• Efficiency and asset management: project design improvements, digital optimization, and selective asset sales or retirements to lower average carbon intensity.
• CCS and low-carbon services: building capture hubs (about 9 MTA of contracted CO₂ capacity on the U.S. Gulf Coast) and contracting capture services for industrial customers.

The plan also names specific technology and program investments. Exxon highlights advanced sensor networks and real-time emissions monitoring. They also focus on expanding data systems to track and verify reductions. It expects these tools to improve measurement accuracy and speed up corrective action.

Limits and caveats appear repeatedly. Exxon links its long-term net-zero goal to several factors. These include market formation, policy incentives like tax credits and carbon pricing, and permitting timelines. The company warns that total emissions and some asset outcomes will change with production levels and energy demand.

In the near term, key metrics to watch include:

• 2026 methane-intensity and flaring disclosures.

• Volumes of CO₂ captured and stored as Gulf Coast CCS projects launch.

• The pace of FID and execution for the 1.0 GW / 3.5 MTA low-carbon power and capture project.

These will show whether Exxon’s claimed progress converts into sustained emissions declines.

Fueling the Future: Rising Oil & Gas Output Through 2030

Exxon projects higher hydrocarbon output even as it invests in low-carbon businesses. The plan targets ~5.5 Moebd by 2030. The company expects ~65% of production to come from advantaged assets such as the Permian Basin, Guyana, and select LNG.

Permian growth is a core part of the supply outlook. Exxon expects roughly 2.5 Moebd from the Permian by 2030, up materially from 2024 levels. Guyana’s Stabroek Block is another major growth driver.

Exxon plans multiple new offshore start-ups in Guyana before 2030. The company argues that these barrels deliver lower operational carbon intensity compared with many older fields.

Critics say rising production risks locking in fossil reliance. Environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, called the plan inconsistent with a 1.5°C pathway. Exxon responds that the world will need oil and gas for decades and that its strategy balances supply security with emissions reduction. Reuters reported split investor and market reactions when the plan surfaced.

• MUST READ: Oil Giants Under Fire: ExxonMobil Fights Climate Laws as TotalEnergies Found Guilty of Greenwashing

Investor Radar: Metrics to Track Exxon’s Low-Carbon Rollout

ExxonMobil links the pace of low-carbon roll-out to policy, permitting, and market formation. Key near-term items to watch include:

• Final investment decision and execution of the 1.0 GW / 3.5 MTA project in 2026.
• Gulf Coast CCS volumes will actually be placed into service in 2026–2030.
• Methane-intensity disclosures in 2026 to confirm earlier achievement claims.

Market analysts noted Exxon’s plan targets improved earnings and cash flow through 2030 while retaining tight capital discipline. Some news channels highlighted that the company raised its earnings and cash-flow outlook to 2030 without raising total capital allocation.

• READ MORE: BASF and ExxonMobil Team Up to Boost Low-Emission Hydrogen with Methane Pyrolysis

The post ExxonMobil’s $20B Low-Carbon Bet in 2030 Plan: Big Emissions Cuts, Bigger Oil Production appeared first on Carbon Credits.

Across Europe, a quiet but decisive shift is reshaping how companies work with their suppliers. As the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) comes into force, large organisations are under mounting pressure to disclose detailed, verifiable sustainability information—not only about their own operations, but across their entire value chain. And because up to 80% of a company’s emissions often come from its supply chain, the spotlight naturally turns to SMEs.

Disseminated on behalf of Surge Battery Metals Inc.

Lithium prices have jumped sharply overnight, catching the attention of investors, automakers, and battery makers. In China, lithium carbonate futures on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange hit about 95,200 yuan (≈$13,400 USD) per metric ton. This marks a rebound from earlier lows caused by oversupply.

Historically, lithium prices have been volatile. Peak prices reached around 150,000 yuan per ton in 2022, followed by a slump during the oversupply period in 2023–2024.

The recent spike followed comments from the chairman of Ganfeng Lithium, Li Liangbin, who projected a 30–40% rise in global demand by 2026. He suggested prices could reach between 150,000 and 200,000 yuan per ton if this growth materializes.

The surge highlights lithium’s critical role in powering electric vehicles (EVs) and large-scale energy storage.

Growing Demand for Lithium: What Drives the Boom?

Electric vehicles remain the largest driver of lithium demand. Around 16 million EVs were on the road globally in 2024, up from 10 million in 2022. Sales are forecast to exceed 25 million units by 2026 and reach over 50 million by 2030. Longer-range vehicles require larger batteries, which increases lithium use.

Energy storage systems are another fast-growing source of demand. Utilities expanding solar and wind energy need lithium-based batteries to store surplus electricity. Heavy-duty electric trucks and buses have larger batteries. This means they use more lithium per vehicle compared to passenger EVs.

Long-term trends toward decarbonization and renewable energy growth further support lithium demand. Analysts say that EV batteries make up about 70% of lithium demand. Grid storage accounts for 15%. Electric trucks use 10%, and other uses, like electronics and specialty chemicals, are around 5%.

Supply Challenges Keep Prices Elevated

Lithium carbonate prices in China have climbed dramatically, moving from $8,259/tonne on June 23, 2025, to $12,791/tonne on November 19, 2025 – a rise of about 55% over five months. 

This recent rally is primarily attributed to tight supply conditions, with major Chinese mines, including those operated by CATL, pausing operations due to falling prices earlier in the year. As output was reduced or shut in, inventories were gradually drawn down, tightening available supply.

Moreover, lithium production is highly concentrated. Australia leads with around 60,000 tonnes LCE annually, followed by Chile (35,000 tonnes), China (25,000 tonnes), Argentina (18,000 tonnes), and the U.S. (≈5,000 tonnes). Geographic concentration adds risk: environmental regulations, political tensions, or operational issues could tighten supply.

Restarting idled mines or opening new projects takes 2–5 years. Inventories from the oversupply period act as a buffer. Current estimates show global lithium stocks at about 350,000 tonnes LCE. This amount can help with short-term supply issues, but it’s not enough for long-term growth.

• SEE live prices here: Live Lithium Prices Today

The factors that keep pushing lithium demand higher include:

• Electric vehicles,
• Energy storage systems,
• Electric trucks and buses, and
• Long-term climate trends.

Lithium makes up about 20–25% of total EV battery costs. So, price changes can greatly impact EV production costs. Also, battery chemistry trends show that sodium-ion and solid-state batteries might take a small share of the market by 2030. However, lithium-ion will remain the leader for now.

Lithium carbonate prices in China have climbed sharply, as shown in the chart. Prices rose more than 17% this month as investors bet on accelerating demand from the energy storage sector.

• MORE on LITHIUM: 
  • Lithium’s Turning Point: DOE Investment in LAC’s Thacker Pass and the LIT ETF Rally
  • U.S. Lithium Push: How Washington’s Bet on Lithium Americas Could Reshape the Global Market

What Analysts Say: Forecasts and Future Trends

Fastmarkets predicts a small surplus in 2025, shifting to a deficit of 1,500 tonnes LCE by 2026. A few years ago, the market had a surplus of about 175,000 tonnes in 2023 and 154,000 tonnes in 2024. Cuts in production at high-cost or marginal mines and rising demand from EVs and storage systems are driving this rebalancing.

Arcane Capital forecasts global demand could hit 4.6 million tonnes LCE by 2030, led by EVs, grid storage, and heavy-duty transport.

Benchmark Mineral Intelligence expects lithium carbonate prices to stay between $15,000 and $17,000 USD per ton in 2025, but prices may be lower in 2026 if supply increases faster than demand.

Still, the chart from Katusa Research highlights a growing deficit in lithium supply and demand. This supply deficit will likely underpin upward pressure on lithium prices moving toward 2030.

Production in Australia, China, and South America should grow by about 10% each year, per industry estimates. However, delays or cost overruns might slow this growth. 

Risks to the Price Recovery

Lithium prices face several risks. EV adoption could slow if subsidies or incentives drop. Battery makers might adopt sodium-ion or other chemistries if costs rise. Rapid restarts of idled mines or new production could oversupply the market.

Regulatory hurdles, environmental restrictions, and trade tensions could also disrupt supply. Recent price spikes were partly due to speculative trading, highlighting the market’s sensitivity to sentiment.

Who Wins and Who Loses?

Higher lithium prices may hurt automakers and battery makers, pushing them to secure contracts or invest in recycling. Mining companies benefit from higher prices but must manage timelines and costs.

Meanwhile, investors have opportunities, though volatility is high. Policymakers consider lithium a strategic resource and are encouraging domestic production, recycling, and robust supply chains.

With global supply growth uncertain, focus is turning to projects that provide steady, long-term output. This is especially true in areas aiming to boost domestic supply chains, where Surge Battery Metals comes in.

Spotlight: Surge Battery Metals – US Lithium Hero

Surge Battery Metals (TSX-V: NILI | OTCQX: NILIF) is emerging as a key U.S. lithium developer. Its Nevada North Lithium Project (NNLP) hosts the highest-grade lithium clay resource currently reported in the United States, with an Inferred Resource of 11.24 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) grading 3,010 ppm lithium (NI 43-101, September 24, 2024).

A Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) on the project outlines robust economics, including:

• After-tax NPV₈%: US$9.21 billion
• After-tax IRR: 22.8%
• Low operating costs: US$5,243 per tonne LCE

NNLP benefits from access to regional infrastructure, including established roads and nearby power, supporting future development. 

Surge’s leadership team includes veterans from Millennial Lithium, a company acquired for US$490 million in 2022. The company has also secured a staged C$10 million JV funding agreement with Evolution Mining to advance NNLP toward Pre-Feasibility while maintaining majority ownership.

How Nevada North Fits into the Global Picture

The Nevada North Lithium Project demonstrates the potential to become a globally significant lithium operation. According to comparative analysis from 3L Capital and S&P Global, NNLP’s Life-of-Mine (LOM) average production of 86 kt LCE per year—as outlined in the PEA—would rank the project as the 5th largest lithium-producing project in the world compared with 2024 producers and developers.

Even in its first year, NNLP is projected to produce 26 kt LCE, placing it among the top 16 lithium projects globally on a 2024 comparative basis. This combination of scale, grade, and location underscores NNLP’s potential as a strategic U.S. supply source in a market seeking domestic, high-quality lithium to reduce dependence on overseas imports.

If advanced through feasibility, permitting, and construction decisions, NNLP has the potential to become a competitive, American-based lithium operation—supporting both EV manufacturing and large-scale energy storage with “American-made” battery-grade feedstock.

Lithium Surges, Supply Matters, and America Prepares

Prices are shaped by several key factors. These include updates on production from major mines, trends in EV adoption, grid storage deployment, new battery technologies, and changes in policy. Inventory levels and market speculation will continue to influence short-term volatility.

Lithium prices have jumped, signaling a possible market turning point after past oversupply. High demand from EVs, grid storage, and heavy-duty transport, along with limited production and geographic concentration, is pushing prices up.

Industry stakeholders, investors, and policymakers have to monitor developments closely as lithium continues to play a central role in the global energy transition. Surge Battery Metals shows the type of domestic production needed to meet rising demand and strengthen supply chains in a rapidly evolving market.

• READ MORE: Nevada Lithium Hub: Why Surge Battery Metals Holds the Key to U.S. EV Independence

DISCLAIMER 

New Era Publishing Inc. and/or CarbonCredits.com (“We” or “Us”) are not securities dealers or brokers, investment advisers, or financial advisers, and you should not rely on the information herein as investment advice. Surge Battery Metals Inc. (“Company”) made a one-time payment of $50,000 to provide marketing services for a term of two months. None of the owners, members, directors, or employees of New Era Publishing Inc. and/or CarbonCredits.com currently hold, or have any beneficial ownership in, any shares, stocks, or options of the companies mentioned.

This article is informational only and is solely for use by prospective investors in determining whether to seek additional information. It does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. Examples that we provide of share price increases pertaining to a particular issuer from one referenced date to another represent arbitrarily chosen time periods and are no indication whatsoever of future stock prices for that issuer and are of no predictive value.

Our stock profiles are intended to highlight certain companies for your further investigation; they are not stock recommendations or an offer or sale of the referenced securities. The securities issued by the companies we profile should be considered high-risk; if you do invest despite these warnings, you may lose your entire investment. Please do your own research before investing, including reviewing the companies’ SEDAR+ and SEC filings, press releases, and risk disclosures.

It is our policy that the information contained in this profile was provided by the company, extracted from SEDAR+ and SEC filings, company websites, and other publicly available sources. We believe the sources and information are accurate and reliable but we cannot guarantee them.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT AND FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information generally can be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “plan,” and similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or events. Forward-looking information is based on current expectations of management; however, it is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated.

These factors include, without limitation, statements relating to the Company’s exploration and development plans, the potential of its mineral projects, financing activities, regulatory approvals, market conditions, and future objectives. Forward-looking information involves numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking information. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, market volatility, the state of financial markets for the Company’s securities, fluctuations in commodity prices, operational challenges, and changes in business plans.

Forward-looking information is based on several key expectations and assumptions, including, without limitation, that the Company will continue with its stated business objectives and will be able to raise additional capital as required. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended.

There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Additional information about risks and uncertainties is contained in the Company’s management’s discussion and analysis and annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2024, copies of which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

The forward-looking information contained herein is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Forward-looking information reflects management’s current beliefs and is based on information currently available to the Company. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances except as may be required by applicable law.

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The post Lithium Prices Surge Amid Strong Demand Forecasts, Could Reach Up to $28,000/Ton by 2026 appeared first on Carbon Credits.