Highlighting the growing government and investor support for direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology, Standard Lithium's (SLI) was selected to negotiate a potential $225 million funding from the US Department of Energy in partnership with Equinor.
As part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, this funding is aimed at constructing a central processing facility for Phase 1 of the South West Arkansas project, which targets producing 22,500 tonnes of battery-grade lithium carbonate annually using dle and plans to scale to 45,000 tonnes annually in two phases, supported by ongoing feasibility and engineering studies. (Source:
https://www.mining.com/standard-lithium-selected-for-225m-award-negotiation-from-doe/)
This news reinforces the viability of DLE as a key method for lithium production, bolstering confidence in similar companies. Additionally, the attention and funding directed toward lithium projects signal a broader recognition of the strategic importance of lithium in energy transition efforts, which could potentially open up more opportunities for the industry as a whole in terms of partnerships, investments, and market positioning as demand for battery-grade lithium surges.
Notably, Canadian lithium exploration company, EMP Metals (EMPS.c EMPPF), is additionally advancing its direct lithium extraction (DLE) efforts at its facility in Saskatchewan.
Having partnered with Koch Technology Solutions and Saltworks Technologies to implement cutting-edge DLE and lithium refining systems, EMPS recently achieved over 97% lithium recovery and impurity rejection greater than 99%, with lithium concentrations exceeding 2,000 mg/L. This progress positions EMPS as a key player in the growing lithium industry, as it aims to deliver battery-grade lithium carbonate to meet the increasing demand from the electric vehicle and battery storage markets.
For more information, refer to this deep dive:
https://www.reddit.com/r/wallstreetsmallcaps/comments/1fijhav/emp_metals_corp_empsc_seizes_opportunities_amid/ Posted on Behalf of EMP Metals Corp.