Mexico’s president says that even if an energy reform he’s pushing fails, steps will be taken to put the country’s lithium under state control.

That reform, as sent to the Mexican congress by Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, would make lithium production the sole domain of the Mexican government. On Monday he was asked what would happen if that reform fails, or if that element is modified.

“I’ve still got about three years left (in office),” he said. “And if there’s an act of betrayal, if the reform is not approved, that has to do with lithium, we’re going to look for other options, other strategies.”

He later clarified that those mining concessions already granted to private mining companies would be respected, including those at a major lithium mine being built in Sonora.