Smackover Lithium’s South West Arkansas Project Receives Unanimous Vote of Approval to Establish the Phase I Brine Production Unit from the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission
Smackover Lithium, a joint venture between Standard Lithium (NYSE:A:SLI) and Equinor, has received unanimous approval from the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission (AOGC) for its Phase I brine production unit, named the Reynolds Unit, at the South West Arkansas (SWA) Project.
The Reynolds Unit, spanning 20,854 acres, is projected to produce 22,500 tonnes per year of battery-quality lithium carbonate when it reaches full commercial production, expected in 2028. The approval came with no objections during a public hearing open to all community stakeholders.
This regulatory milestone is a important step toward the project's final investment decision, with the company planning to set a royalty rate for the unit in late May.
Smackover Lithium, una joint venture tra Standard Lithium (NYSE:A:SLI) ed Equinor, ha ottenuto l'approvazione unanime dalla Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission (AOGC) per la sua unità di produzione di salamoia di Fase I, denominata Reynolds Unit, nel progetto South West Arkansas (SWA).
La Reynolds Unit, che si estende su 20.854 acri, prevede di produrre 22.500 tonnellate all'anno di carbonato di litio di qualità per batterie una volta raggiunta la piena produzione commerciale, prevista per il 2028. L'approvazione è stata concessa senza obiezioni durante un'udienza pubblica aperta a tutti i portatori di interesse della comunità.
Questo traguardo regolatorio rappresenta un passo importante verso la decisione finale di investimento del progetto, con l'azienda che prevede di fissare un tasso di royalty per l'unità entro la fine di maggio.
Smackover Lithium, una empresa conjunta entre Standard Lithium (NYSE:A:SLI) y Equinor, ha recibido la aprobación unánime de la Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission (AOGC) para su unidad de producción de salmuera Fase I, llamada Reynolds Unit, en el Proyecto South West Arkansas (SWA).
La Reynolds Unit, que abarca 20,854 acres, se proyecta que producirá 22,500 toneladas por año de carbonato de litio de calidad para baterías cuando alcance la producción comercial completa, prevista para 2028. La aprobación se otorgó sin objeciones durante una audiencia pública abierta a todos los interesados de la comunidad.
Este hito regulatorio es un paso importante hacia la decisión final de inversión del proyecto, y la empresa planea establecer una tasa de regalías para la unidad a finales de mayo.
Smackover Lithium는 Standard Lithium (NYSE:A:SLI)과 Equinor의 합작 투자로, Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission (AOGC)로부터 South West Arkansas (SWA) 프로젝트의 1단계 염수 생산 시설인 Reynolds Unit에 대해 만장일치 승인을 받았습니다.
Reynolds Unit은 20,854에이커에 걸쳐 있으며, 2028년으로 예상되는 상업 생산 완전 가동 시 연간 22,500톤의 배터리 품질 리튬 탄산염을 생산할 것으로 전망됩니다. 승인 과정에서는 지역 사회 이해관계자 모두가 참여한 공개 청문회에서 이의 제기가 전혀 없었습니다.
이번 규제 승인 획득은 프로젝트의 최종 투자 결정에 중요한 단계이며, 회사는 5월 말까지 해당 시설의 로열티 비율을 설정할 계획입니다.
Smackover Lithium, une coentreprise entre Standard Lithium (NYSE:A:SLI) et Equinor, a reçu l'approbation unanime de la Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission (AOGC) pour son unité de production de saumure Phase I, nommée Reynolds Unit, dans le cadre du projet South West Arkansas (SWA).
La Reynolds Unit, qui s’étend sur 20 854 acres, devrait produire 22 500 tonnes par an de carbonate de lithium de qualité batterie une fois la production commerciale complète atteinte, prévue en 2028. L’approbation a été accordée sans objection lors d’une audience publique ouverte à tous les acteurs de la communauté.
Cette étape réglementaire importante représente un pas décisif vers la décision finale d’investissement du projet, l’entreprise prévoyant de fixer un taux de redevance pour l’unité d’ici fin mai.
Smackover Lithium, ein Joint Venture zwischen Standard Lithium (NYSE:A:SLI) und Equinor, hat von der Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission (AOGC) einstimmige Zustimmung für seine Phase-I-Salzwasserproduktionsanlage, genannt Reynolds Unit, im South West Arkansas (SWA) Projekt erhalten.
Die Reynolds Unit erstreckt sich über 20.854 Acres und soll bei voller kommerzieller Produktion, die für 2028 erwartet wird, 22.500 Tonnen pro Jahr batterietaugliches Lithiumcarbonat produzieren. Die Genehmigung erfolgte ohne Einwände während einer öffentlichen Anhörung, die für alle Interessengruppen der Gemeinschaft offen war.
Dieser regulatorische Meilenstein ist ein wichtiger Schritt hin zur endgültigen Investitionsentscheidung des Projekts, wobei das Unternehmen plant, bis Ende Mai einen Lizenzsatz für die Einheit festzulegen.
- Unanimous regulatory approval received for Phase I brine production unit
- Large-scale production capacity of 22,500 tonnes/year of battery-quality lithium carbonate
- Significant land position secured with 20,854-acre Reynolds Unit
- Strong partnership with major energy company Equinor in the joint venture
- Commercial production not expected until 2028
- Pending royalty rate determination could impact project economics
LEWISVILLE, Ark., April 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Smackover Lithium, a Joint Venture (“JV”) between Standard Lithium Ltd. (“Standard Lithium” or the “Company”) (TSXV:SLI) (NYSE:A:SLI) and Equinor, is pleased to announce that the brine production unit, now formally named the Reynolds Unit, for Phase I of its South West Arkansas (“SWA”) Project has been unanimously approved by the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission (“AOGC”) with no objections or opposition in a hearing that was open to all stakeholders from the community.
“We thank the AOGC for their due diligence in reviewing our application and for their swift approval,” said Standard Lithium’s President and COO, Dr. Andy Robinson, who provided testimony at the hearing. “The establishment of the Reynolds brine unit is another key milestone our team has now successfully completed as we march towards a final investment decision for the SWA Project, and also a necessary statutory requirement as we look to set a royalty for the unit in late May.”
“Gaining regulatory approval for our first brine unit is an important step in our project timeline. We look forward to working with the AOGC and community stakeholders to establish a competitive royalty rate for this unit and continue momentum with the SWA Project,” said Allison Kennedy Thurmond, VP of US Lithium at Equinor.
The Reynolds unit is 20,854 acres in size and is planned to produce 22,500 tonnes per year of battery-quality lithium carbonate once in full commercial production, expected in 2028. For more information about the SWA Project and Smackover Lithium, please visit www.smackoverlithium.com
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, 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. 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”. 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
Investor and Media Inquiries
Chris Lang
Standard Lithium Ltd.
+1 604 409 8154
investors@standardlithium.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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