Lithium, or rather the lack of it, is a subject of deep concern for many grease manufacturers. What if there is a world shortage due to its use in other applications such as car batteries or nuclear fuel? We may not need to look any further than to the deep blue sea, all according to an interesting article in the April 2014 edition of Chemical Engineering. Japanese scientists are seemingly investigating a method of recovering lithium from seawater while simultaneously generating electricity. The same researchers are planning to build a pilot plant to recycle lithium from batteries and recover lithium and other minerals from desalination brine. So we may no longer have to rely on the national treasures of South America. And there may still be hope for Clarence Earle´s invention, and for many grease makers.