Standard Lithium Ltd. (NYSE American: SLI) and Equinor, through their joint venture Smackover Lithium, have reached a significant milestone at their South West Arkansas (SWA) Project with the discovery of the highest lithium concentration recorded to date. Sampling from the Lester well showed a peak concentration of 616 mg/L, with an average of 582 mg/L across three samples, concluding the sub-surface exploration activities for Phase 1 of the project.
The joint venture is now progressing with its Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) study, aiming for a Definitive Feasibility Study by the third quarter of 2025 and a Final Investment Decision by the end of that year. This development is a crucial step towards the sustainable, commercial-scale production of lithium, leveraging a scalable and fully integrated direct lithium extraction (DLE) and purification process.
Located in the Smackover Formation, a world-class lithium-brine asset, the SWA Project underscores the potential for greenfield lithium-brine developments in Arkansas and Texas. This initiative is pivotal in meeting the escalating demand for lithium, essential for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage solutions, highlighting the strategic partnership between Standard Lithium and Equinor in the lithium market.
