Standard Lithium

Name

Standard Lithium

Legal name

Standard Lithium Ltd.

Website

https://standardlithium.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Battery-Grade Lithium Carbonate Production

NAICS

Battery Manufacturing (335910)

SIC

Metal Mining (1000)

akta.pro primary industry

Lithium Mining & Brine Extraction (IMAKAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Battery-Grade Chemical Processing (LiOH/Li2CO3, Ni/Co Sulfates, Mn Sulfate) (IMAKAFAI), Battery Raw Materials Mining & Refining (Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt, Manganese, Graphite) (EUAFABAA), Exploration & Resource Development (Critical Minerals) (IMAKAFAL), Solid-State Battery Materials & Cell Manufacturing (EUAFABAH)

Keywords

• Direct lithium extraction
• Lithium carbonate production
• Battery-grade lithium
• Lithium brine processing
• Critical minerals development

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Lithium Carbonate Sales: Standard Lithium will generate revenue from the sale of battery-quality lithium carbonate produced at its commercial-scale projects. The company has signed binding 10-year take-or-pay offtake agreements (e.g., 8,000 metric tonnes/year with Trafigura) that provide contracted revenue streams starting at commercial production.
2. Technology Licensing: The company may generate licensing revenue from its DLE technology and process intellectual property, including partnerships with Koch Technology Solutions for DLE licensing.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Standard Lithium develops and produces battery-quality lithium carbonate from high-grade lithium brine resources in the U.S. Smackover Formation using proprietary Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology. Its flagship South West Arkansas Project targets 22,500 tonnes per annum in initial commercial production (Phase 1), with a Phase 2 expansion to 45,000 tonnes and potential East Texas capacity exceeding 100,000 tonnes LCE per year. The company sells output under binding 10-year offtake agreements to enterprise customers in the battery and EV supply chain.

Product overview

Standard Lithium is a near-commercial lithium development company operating a portfolio of large, high-grade lithium-brine properties in the United States, primarily focused on the Smackover Formation in Arkansas and Texas. The company utilizes a scalable, fully integrated Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) process to produce battery-quality lithium carbonate. Key projects include the South West Arkansas Project (22,500 tpa initial capacity) and the East Texas/Franklin Project (highest lithium brine grades in North America). Supporting infrastructure includes a Demonstration Plant in El Dorado, Arkansas. The company operates through its Smackover Lithium joint venture (55% Standard Lithium, 45% Equinor). Technology portfolio includes DLE, SiFT crystallization, Lithium Sulfide production, and Aqualung carbon capture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• South West Arkansas Project A direct lithium extraction (DLE) project located in Lafayette and Columbia counties in southwest Arkansas, designed to produce 22,500 tonnes per annum of battery-quality lithium carbonate in its initial commercial phase (Phase 1), expandable to 45,000 tpa in Phase 2. The project is supported by a $225 million DOE grant, over $1 billion in senior secured debt financing from export credit agencies, and a 10-year binding take-or-pay offtake agreement with Trafigura for 8,000 tonnes per year.
• East Texas/Franklin Project An early-stage lithium brine project in East Texas containing the highest reported lithium-in-brine grades in North America (668 mg/L average lithium concentration), with 2.2 million tonnes of total inferred lithium resource and potential production capacity exceeding 100,000 tonnes LCE per year across future phases. Developed under the Smackover Lithium joint venture.
• El Dorado Demonstration Plant A large-scale commercial demonstration plant in El Dorado, Arkansas featuring a fully operational brine-to-lithium carbonate flowsheet with a commercial-scale direct lithium extraction (DLE) unit (8' x 4' column) supplied by Aquatech. Has operated for 5+ years, completed 15,000+ DLE cycles, and processed over one million barrels of real Smackover brine with 95%+ lithium recovery and 99%+ contaminant rejection.
• Smackover Lithium Branded joint venture (55% Standard Lithium, 45% Equinor) developing multiple direct lithium extraction projects in Southwest Arkansas and East Texas, combining Standard Lithium's DLE technology leadership with Equinor's large-scale energy project management expertise.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95%+ lithium recovery rates achieved at demonstration plant
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered major, strategic and core.

• S&B Engineers and ConstructorsmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 26 May 2026EPCC agreement for Central Processing Facility at South West Arkansas Project. S&B delivers detailed engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning. Supported by Hatch Ltd. for design engineering and commissioning support. CPF represents approximately two-thirds of project capital expenditure.
• Wood Group USA, Inc.majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 21 May 2026EPCM agreement for upstream well field portion of South West Arkansas Project. Well field comprises four well pads with twelve supply and ten injection wells, brine gathering pipelines, and gas gathering system. Work includes detailed engineering, permitting, and early procurement under Limited Notice to Proceed.
• Telescope Innovations Corp.strategicTechnology or Integration · 13 April 2026Partnership for next-generation solid-state battery materials production using Standard Lithium's lithium carbonate. Telescope's ReCRFT lithium recycling process and DualPure program complement Standard Lithium's product portfolio for advanced battery applications.
• The Walsh Group, LLCstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 March 2026Strategic advisory engagement led by Lieutenant General Robert S. Walsh, USMC (Ret.), bringing national security, defense, and advanced technology expertise. Strengthens engagement with federal stakeholders and policymakers regarding domestic lithium supply chain development.
• Global Mineral Strategies LLCstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 March 2026Strategic advisory engagement led by Gary Stanley (former Director of Office of Critical Minerals and Metals at U.S. Department of Commerce), bringing critical minerals strategy and trade policy expertise. Supports federal policy engagement and supply chain security initiatives.
• Trafigura Trading LLCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 9 March 2026Binding 10-year take-or-pay offtake agreement for 8,000 metric tonnes per year of battery-quality lithium carbonate from the South West Arkansas Project, representing over 40% of targeted offtake commitments. Trafigura is a global commodities market leader with established presence across battery metals.
• Koch Technology SolutionsstrategicTechnology or Integration · 24 September 2024License agreement signed for first commercial DLE project in North America. Koch provides DLE technology licensing as part of the South West Arkansas Project development.
• EquinorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024Equinor (45%) and Standard Lithium (55%, operator) formed Smackover Lithium joint venture in May 2024 to develop multiple DLE projects in Southwest Arkansas and East Texas. Equinor contributes large-scale project management expertise from offshore energy operations. The partnership combines Standard Lithium's DLE technology leadership with Equinor's energy sector capabilities.
• AquatechmajorTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2020Aquatech supplies commercial-scale direct lithium extraction unit for the demonstration plant in El Dorado, Arkansas. The DLE column (8' x 4') is core to the lithium extraction process demonstrating 95%+ recovery rates.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Albemarle Corporation: World's largest lithium producer with established brine operations in Chile and the US, plus hard-rock spodumene assets. Albemarle is investing in DLE capabilities and is the most direct incumbent competitor to Standard Lithium in the US lithium carbonate market.
• Arcadium Lithium: Major lithium chemicals producer formed via the merger of Livent and Allkem, with brine-based operations globally. Comparable to Standard Lithium as a vertically integrated lithium carbonate/hydroxide producer serving the same battery supply chain customers.
• SQM (Sociedad Química y Minera): Global lithium chemicals leader with large Chilean brine operations producing battery-grade lithium carbonate and hydroxide. Competes with Standard Lithium in the lithium carbonate supply market for EV battery manufacturers.

Direct peers

• Lithium Americas Corp. Lithium developer advancing the Thacker Pass project in Nevada, one of the largest US lithium resources, with DOE financing support. Direct peer as a publicly listed North American lithium developer targeting battery-grade lithium production.
• Piedmont Lithium: US-focused lithium developer with hard-rock and integrated DLE ambitions, holding offtake agreements with major automakers and Tesla. Direct peer competing for the same domestic battery-grade lithium market and IRA-related incentives.
• Sigma Lithium: Public lithium developer producing battery-grade lithium from hard-rock spodumene in Brazil, targeting the same EV battery supply chain customers. Comparable as a publicly listed, near-to-commercial lithium producer targeting premium battery-grade markets.

Emerging players

• E3 Lithium: Canadian DLE-focused lithium developer with brine resources in Alberta. Closely comparable technology approach (DLE from brine) and a similar pre-commercial development-stage profile targeting North American battery markets.
• Lilac Solutions: Private DLE technology company that has commercialized ion-exchange lithium extraction technology deployed with major partners including BMW i Ventures and EnergyX. Comparable as a competing DLE technology provider targeting the same US and global lithium brine opportunity.
• EnergyX: Private lithium DLE technology company developing direct lithium extraction for US and global brine resources, including projects in Arkansas. Competes with Standard Lithium's DLE technology in the same North American brine addressable market.
• ioneer Ltd: US-focused lithium developer advancing the Rhyolite Ridge project in Nevada with DOE financing support. Comparable as a publicly listed North American lithium developer targeting domestic battery-grade lithium supply.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/standard-lithium
• Xx.com/StandardLithium
• Facebookfacebook.com/standardlithium

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Standard Lithium