Smackover Lithium moves closer to large-scale production

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A big step toward bringing lithium production to Arkansas just happened, as Smackover Lithium wrapped up a crucial test of its extraction process. The buzz around lithium keeps growing in East Texas and Arkansas, especially since some of the highest-quality deposits in the country have been discovered in this region.

The company, a joint venture between Standard Lithium Ltd. and energy giant Equinor, announced that its pilot plant has achieved a lithium recovery rate of over 99%, surpassing initial expectations. This development brings Arkansas closer to becoming a key player in the growing lithium industry, which is essential for electric vehicle batteries and other advanced technologies.

For three months, the pilot facility processed more than 100,000 gallons of lithium-rich brine drawn from an underground reservoir in the Smackover Formation, located in southwest Arkansas. The extracted lithium chloride was then sent to outside vendors for further processing into battery-grade lithium carbonate. These samples will be tested by potential industry partners interested in securing lithium supplies for manufacturing.

“This field-pilot is the final step in de-risking our Direct Lithium Extraction technology,” said Dr. Andy Robinson, president and COO of Standard Lithium. “We are now ready to commercialize this technology at scale.”

The Smackover Formation, known for its lithium- rich brines, has been a focus of development for several years. Standard Lithium’s previous demonstration facility in El Dorado has already processed over 28 million gallons of brine, refining the extraction process.

With this successful pilot, Smackover Lithium will now move forward with final engineering and feasibility studies. If full-scale production is achieved, the project could provide a domestic source of lithium, reducing reliance on overseas suppliers and strengthening the U.S. supply chain for electric vehicle batteries.

The news is expected to generate interest among investors and policymakers, as demand for lithium continues to grow in the push toward clean energy and electrification.

For now, the company says it will focus on advancing toward commercial production, with additional regulatory approvals and infrastructure development still ahead.