Standard Lithium and Equinor secure $225 mln U.S. grant to develop Lithium extraction facility

Standard Lithium said on Thursday SWA Lithium, a jointly-owned unit with energy firm Equinor, has closed on a $225 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy(DoE).

The company said the grant, given by DoE’s Office of Manufacturing & Energy Supply Chains, will support construction of phase 1 of the South West Arkansas (SWA) project, which is expected to be one of the world’s first commercial-scale Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) facilities.
DLE is described as a faster, more efficient and more environmentally friendly process of extracting lithium, compared with traditional methods which are slow, use excess water and cause habitat disruption.
The project is located in Lafayette and Columbia counties of Arkansas and is expected to produce 45,000 tonnes per annum of lithium carbonate, developed in two phases of 22,500 tonnes each.
SWA Lithium, owned 55% by Standard Lithium and 45% by Equinor, is targeting a final investment decision by the end of 2025 with phase 1 production commencing as soon as 2028, the lithium firm said in a statement.
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