Standard Lithium Ltd. (“Standard Lithium”)
(TSXV:SLI) (NYSE:A:SLI), a leading near-commercial lithium
developer, and Equinor, a global energy leader, today announced
that its jointly-owned U.S. subsidiary, SWA Lithium LLC, has closed
the US$225 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s
(“DOE”) Office of Manufacturing & Energy Supply Chains. The
grant will support construction of Phase 1 of the South West
Arkansas (“SWA”) project.
“Closing of the DOE grant is a testament to the
caliber of the South West Arkansas project,” said David Park, CEO
and Director of Standard Lithium. “SWA is one of the highest-grade
lithium brine projects in North America, and through the use of DLE
technology, a near-term, sustainable opportunity to help secure
America’s domestic lithium supply chain.”
“The U.S. Department of Energy’s support
demonstrates the project’s maturity and strengthens its financial
robustness as we work towards a final investment decision. We look
forward to working with Standard Lithium and alongside the local
community to enhance the US lithium supply chain by deploying
innovative technology,” says Hege Skryseth, Executive Vice
President for Technology, Digital & Innovation in Equinor.
The SWA project is expected to be one of the
world’s first commercial-scale Direct Lithium Extraction (“DLE”)
facilities. The project, located in Lafayette and Columbia
Counties, Arkansas, is expected to produce 45,000 tonnes per annum
of lithium carbonate, developed in two phases of 22,500 tonnes
each. It is being developed in partnership with global energy
leader Equinor, with ownership shared at 55% by Standard Lithium
and 45% by Equinor.
A Definitive Feasibility Study and Front-End
Engineering Design for the Project are currently underway. The
partnership is targeting a Final Investment Decision (“FID”) by the
end of 2025 with Phase 1 production commencing as soon as 2028.
As part of receiving the grant, the Project is
subject to the National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”) and will
require completion of an Environmental Assessment (“EA”). The
Company expects to complete the EA this year, prior to reaching
FID. More information, including the opportunity for public comment
and review, will be shared as the process progresses beginning in
2025.
David Park stated, “We’re committed to ensuring
this project is a win for the Lewisville and southwest Arkansas
communities. For us that means adding approximately 100 direct,
long-term jobs and 300 construction jobs, with a commitment to hire
at least 40% of the operations workforce locally.”
Additionally, this Project will further benefit
the local community through infrastructure improvements, healthcare
initiatives, educational partnerships, and workforce development
programs.
About Standard Lithium Ltd.
Standard Lithium is a leading near-commercial
lithium development company focused on the sustainable development
of a portfolio of large, high-grade lithium-brine properties in the
United States. The Company prioritizes projects characterized by
the highest quality resources, robust infrastructure, skilled
labor, and streamlined permitting. Standard Lithium aims to achieve
sustainable, commercial-scale lithium production via the
application of a scalable and fully integrated Direct Lithium
Extraction (“DLE”) and purification process. The Company’s flagship
projects are located in the Smackover Formation, a world-class
lithium brine asset, focused in Arkansas and Texas. In partnership
with global energy leader Equinor ASA, Standard Lithium is
advancing the South West Arkansas project, a greenfield project
located in southern Arkansas, and actively exploring promising
lithium brine prospects in East Texas. Additionally, the Company is
advancing the Phase 1A project in partnership with LANXESS
Corporation, a brownfield development project located in southern
Arkansas. Standard Lithium also holds an interest in certain
mineral leases in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County,
California.
Standard Lithium trades on both the TSX Venture
Exchange and the NYSE American under the symbol “SLI”; and on the
Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol “S5L”. Please visit the
Company’s website at www.standardlithium.com.
About Equinor
Equinor is an international energy company
committed to long-term value creation in a low-carbon future.
Equinor’s portfolio of projects encompasses oil and gas, renewables
and low-carbon solutions, with an ambition of becoming a net-zero
energy company by 2050. Headquartered in Norway, Equinor is the
leading operator on the Norwegian continental shelf and is present
in around 30 countries worldwide. Our partnership with Standard
Lithium to mature DLE projects builds on our broad US energy
portfolio of oil and gas, offshore wind, low carbon solutions and
battery storage projects.
For more information on Equinor in the US,
please visit: Equinor in the US - Equinor
Qualified Person
Steve Ross, P.Geol., a qualified person as
defined by National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for
mineral projects, and Vice President Resource Development for
Standard Lithium, has reviewed and approved the relevant scientific
and technical information in this news release.
Media Contacts:
Chris LangStandard Lithium
Ltd.investors@standardithium.com
Ola Morten
AanestadEquinoroaan@equinor.com
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its
Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies
of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the
adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain
certain “Forward-Looking Statements” within the meaning of the
United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and
applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news
release, the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”,
“target”, “plan”, “forecast”, “may”, “schedule” and other similar
words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or
information. These forward-looking statements or information may
relate to intended development timelines, future prices of
commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity,
reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or
approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued
access to mineral properties or infrastructure, fluctuations in the
market for lithium and its derivatives, changes in exploration
costs and government regulation in Canada and the United States,
and other factors or information. Such statements represent the
Company’s current views with respect to future events and are
necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that,
while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject
to significant business, economic, competitive, political and
social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both
known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements
to be materially different from the results, performance or
achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does
not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking
statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or
changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such
statements and information other than as required by applicable
laws, rules and regulations.
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