Railroad Commission of Texas
10/21/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/21/2025 17:29
Commissioner Wayne Christian Celebrates Lithium Facility Groundbreaking to Revitalize East Texas Economy and Energy Heritage
Commissioner Wayne Christian Celebrates Lithium Facility Groundbreaking to Revitalize East Texas Economy and Energy Heritage
October 21, 2025JOAQUIN, TEXAS - Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian today joined Select Water Solutions and Mariana Minerals to celebrate the groundbreaking of Texas' first produced water lithium extraction facility in Joaquin, Texas. Located in Shelby County, the facility marks a major milestone for East Texas energy innovation, harnessing the region's rich natural resources to support America's growing demand for critical minerals used in energy and technology manufacturing.
Commissioner Christian praised the project as a bridge between Texas' proud oil and gas legacy and the state's energy future:
"East Texas has been an energy lifeline for Texas and the nation since the World Wars, fueling our military victories and sustaining our economy for generations. While oil and gas production here has slowed in recent years, today's groundbreaking brings new hope. The lithium facility in Joaquin will potentially create up to 50 permanent jobs, generate more than $1 million annually in local tax revenue and inject over $100 million in economic growth to revitalize our rural communities," said Commissioner Christian.
"Energy production brings real jobs and opportunity to towns across Texas, especially in regions like East Texas that have fought hard to keep younger Texans at home with good careers, strong schools, and access to healthcare and infrastructure."
Commissioner Christian recently authored an editorial on how new energy production can help revitalize the Haynesville Shale and broader East Texas region. Read it here.
About the Railroad Commission: Our mission is to serve Texas by our stewardship of natural resources and the environment, our concern for personal and community safety, and our support of enhanced development and economic vitality for the benefit of Texans. The Commission has a long and proud history of service to both Texas and to the nation, including more than 100 years regulating the oil and gas industry. The Commission also has jurisdiction over alternative fuels safety, natural gas utilities, surface mining and intrastate pipelines. Established in 1891, the Railroad Commission of Texas is the oldest regulatory agency in the state. To learn more, please visit https://www.rrc.texas.gov/about-us/.
Railroad Commission of Texas published this content on October 21, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 21, 2025 at 23:29 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]