Standard Lithium, Equinor announce Smackover Lithium as new joint venture name
Standard Lithium (TSXV:SLI) (NYSE:A:SLI) and Equinor have announced Smackover Lithium as the name for their joint venture focused on developing direct lithium extraction (DLE) projects in Southwest Arkansas and East Texas. The announcement was made at a community meeting in Lewisville, Arkansas, where the joint venture plans to establish a field office near its South West Arkansas (SWA) project.
The SWA project, located in Lafayette and Columbia counties, is positioned to become one of the world's first commercial-scale DLE facilities. The joint venture, formed in May 2024, aims to advance DLE projects in the Smackover basin and will continue Standard Lithium's community engagement efforts to boost economic development and expand educational and workforce opportunities in the region.
Standard Lithium (TSXV:SLI) (NYSE:A:SLI) e Equinor hanno annunciato Smackover Lithium come il nome della loro joint venture focalizzata sullo sviluppo di progetti di estrazione diretta di litio (DLE) nel sud-ovest dell'Arkansas e nell'est del Texas. L'annuncio è stato fatto durante un incontro con la comunità a Lewisville, Arkansas, dove la joint venture prevede di stabilire un ufficio sul campo vicino al suo progetto nel Sud Ovest Arkansas (SWA).
Il progetto SWA, situato nelle contee di Lafayette e Columbia, si pone come obiettivo di diventare uno dei primi impianti DLE commerciali su scala mondiale. La joint venture, costituita nel maggio 2024, mira a promuovere i progetti DLE nel bacino di Smackover e continuerà gli sforzi di coinvolgimento della comunità di Standard Lithium per promuovere lo sviluppo economico e ampliare le opportunità educative e lavorative nella regione.
Standard Lithium (TSXV:SLI) (NYSE:A:SLI) y Equinor han anunciado Smackover Lithium como el nombre de su empresa conjunta centrada en desarrollar proyectos de extracción directa de litio (DLE) en el suroeste de Arkansas y el este de Texas. El anuncio se realizó en una reunión comunitaria en Lewisville, Arkansas, donde la empresa conjunta planea establecer una oficina de campo cerca de su proyecto del suroeste de Arkansas (SWA).
El proyecto SWA, ubicado en los condados de Lafayette y Columbia, está posicionado para convertirse en una de las primeras instalaciones DLE comerciales a escala mundial. La empresa conjunta, formada en mayo de 2024, tiene como objetivo avanzar en los proyectos DLE en la cuenca de Smackover y continuará los esfuerzos de compromiso comunitario de Standard Lithium para impulsar el desarrollo económico y expandir las oportunidades educativas y laborales en la región.
스탠다드 리튬 (TSXV:SLI) (NYSE:A:SLI)와 에퀴노르는 스와 파트너십의 이름을 스맥오버 리튬으로 발표했습니다. 이 합작 투자에 초점을 맞춰 남서부 아칸소주와 동부 텍사스에서 직접 리튬 추출(DLE) 프로젝트를 개발하고 있습니다. 발표는 아칸소주 루이스빌에서 열린 커뮤니티 회의에서 이루어졌으며, 합작 투자에서는 남서부 아칸소(SWA) 프로젝트 근처에 현장 사무소를 설립할 계획입니다.
SWA 프로젝트는 라파예트 군과 컬럼비아 군에 위치하고 있으며 세계 최초의 상업 규모 DLE 시설 중 하나가 되는 것을 목표로 하고 있습니다. 2024년 5월에 설립된 이 합작 투자 회사를 통해 스맥오버 분지의 DLE 프로젝트를 발전시키고, 지역의 경제 개발과 교육 및 인력 개발 기회를 확대하기 위한 스탠다드 리튬의 커뮤니티 참여 노력도 지속할 것입니다.
Standard Lithium (TSXV:SLI) (NYSE:A:SLI) et Equinor ont annoncé Smackover Lithium comme le nom de leur coentreprise axée sur le développement de projets d'extraction directe de lithium (DLE) dans le sud-ouest de l'Arkansas et l'est du Texas. L'annonce a été faite lors d'une réunion communautaire à Lewisville, Arkansas, où la coentreprise prévoit d'établir un bureau de terrain près de son projet dans le sud-ouest de l'Arkansas (SWA).
Le projet SWA, situé dans les comtés de Lafayette et Columbia, est positionné pour devenir l'une des premières installations DLE à l'échelle commerciale dans le monde. La coentreprise, constituée en mai 2024, vise à faire avancer les projets DLE dans le bassin de Smackover et poursuivra les efforts d'engagement communautaire de Standard Lithium pour stimuler le développement économique et élargir les opportunités éducatives et professionnelles dans la région.
Standard Lithium (TSXV:SLI) (NYSE:A:SLI) und Equinor haben Smackover Lithium als Namen für ihr Joint Venture angekündigt, das sich auf die Entwicklung von Projekten zur direkten Lithiumextraktion (DLE) im Südwesten von Arkansas und im Osten von Texas konzentriert. Die Ankündigung wurde bei einem Treffen in der Gemeinde in Lewisville, Arkansas, gemacht, wo das Joint Venture plant, ein Büro in der Nähe seines Projekts im Südwesten von Arkansas (SWA) einzurichten.
Das SWA-Projekt, das in den Landkreisen Lafayette und Columbia liegt, hat das Potenzial, eine der ersten DLE-Anlagen in kommerzieller Größe weltweit zu werden. Das im Mai 2024 gegründete Joint Venture hat zum Ziel, DLE-Projekte im Smackover-Becken voranzutreiben und wird die Community-Engagement-Bemühungen von Standard Lithium fortsetzen, um die wirtschaftliche Entwicklung sowie Bildungs- und Arbeitsmöglichkeiten in der Region zu erweitern.
- Strategic partnership with major energy company Equinor strengthens project development capabilities
- Project positioned to be among first commercial-scale DLE facilities globally
- Established presence in resource-rich Smackover formation
- None.
Insights
The formalization of the Smackover Lithium joint venture marks a pivotal development in the US lithium sector. The partnership leverages the Smackover formation's strategic advantages - including its established infrastructure, extensive geological data from decades of oil and gas operations and favorable brine chemistry that's particularly suitable for DLE technology.
The timing is particularly significant as the US intensifies efforts to secure domestic lithium supply chains. The joint venture's positioning in Southwest Arkansas and East Texas provides geographical advantages for serving both domestic battery manufacturers and auto producers. Equinor's involvement brings substantial financial backing and energy sector expertise, significantly de-risking the project's execution and potentially accelerating the timeline to commercial production.
The establishment of a field office in Lewisville, Arkansas, signals a commitment to local community engagement and workforce development - critical factors for securing social license to operate. This local presence, combined with the region's existing energy sector workforce, could provide a competitive advantage in scaling operations.
From a market perspective, being among the first commercial-scale DLE operations in North America could position Smackover Lithium to capture premium pricing and preferential offtake agreements, particularly given the increasing demand for US-sourced battery materials under the Inflation Reduction Act's requirements. The venture's focus on DLE technology also aligns with growing environmental concerns, as it typically has a smaller environmental footprint compared to traditional lithium extraction methods.
LEWISVILLE, Ark., Jan. 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Standard Lithium Ltd. (“Standard Lithium”) (TSXV:SLI) (NYSE:A:SLI), a leading near-commercial lithium developer, and Equinor, a global energy leader, today announced Smackover Lithium as the new name for their joint venture developing direct lithium extraction (“DLE”) projects in Southwest Arkansas and East Texas.
Smackover Lithium was announced yesterday at a community meeting in Lewisville, Arkansas, home of a planned field office and nearby the joint venture’s South West Arkansas (“SWA”) project. The SWA project, located in Lafayette and Columbia counties, is expected to be one of the world’s first commercial-scale DLE facilities.
“Smackover Lithium is a natural fit for the joint venture given the Smackover formation’s prolific resource and our joint venture’s commitment to adding to the incredible legacy of American energy production from this region,” said David Park, CEO of Standard Lithium.
In May 2024, Equinor formed a joint venture with Standard Lithium to advance DLE projects in the Smackover basin, focused on Southwest Arkansas and East Texas. Smackover Lithium is now the external brand for the joint venture and will continue building on Standard Lithium’s work with local communities to enhance economic development and grow educational and workforce opportunities.
“We are excited to be a part of Smackover Lithium, developing critical mineral projects in the Smackover basin and building the next generation of lithium development,” said Allie Kennedy Thurmond, Vice President of US Lithium at Equinor.
For more information on 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 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 SWA 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 (the “TSXV”) 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
Media Contacts:
Chris Lang
Standard Lithium Ltd.
investors@standardithium.com
Ola Morten Aanestad
Equinor
oaan@equinor.com
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FAQ
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