Exxon Mobil is claiming that it seriously intends to be a major lithium producer by 2030, and that it expects to begin producing from its recently purchased lithium assets in Arkansas by 2027, and that it is considering expanding further through more potential investments within the lithium space. This comes despite its recent $60 billion deal to acquire shale producer Pioneer last month, further expanding its fossil fuel portfolio in what is a significant long-term commitment to the future of these fossil-fuel commodities. Despite continued rhetoric surrounding the continued significant role of oil within the global energy mix and its long-term potential, usually citing old IEA reports about the future of fossil-fuels, Exxon has been pretty willing recently to increase…