Editor's Note: In the coming year, RANE will analyze the geopolitics of natural resources and raw materials. This series will be published periodically throughout the remainder of 2026; you can find all parts here . Over the coming years, new extraction technologies, changes in demand and environmental concerns will impact the competitiveness of extraction activities in the lithium triangle. The likely shift to Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) — a mechanical brine-extraction process that filters lithium in a matter of days, rather than the months required by current brine extraction — is set to have a major impact on the industry. The method is currently in testing, but as it is scaled up for industrial use in the coming years, it could significantly accelerate lithium mining from brine.