LEWISVILLE, Arkansas — SWA Lithium LLC has been selected to receive an up to $225 million award negotiation from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to support the South West Arkansas Project in Lafayette and Columbia counties.
The company is a U.S. subsidiary, jointly owned by Standard Lithium Ltd., a leading near-commercial lithium development and tech company, and Equinor, a global energy leader.
This funding comes as part of a second wave under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act aimed at expanding domestic manufacturing in the battery supply chain and increasing the production of critical minerals in the U.S.
This selection was one of the largest ever awarded to a U.S. critical minerals project and will support the construction of the Central Processing Facility (CPF) during Phase 1 of the project.
The new CPF is being designed to produce 22,500 tonnes of battery-quality lithium carbonate annually using Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology.
Additionally, the project’s design is being updated from its original Preliminary Feasibility Study to target a larger total output of 45,000 tonnes per annum of lithium carbonate, to be developed in two phases of 22,500 tonnes each.
A Definitive Feasibility Study and Front-End Engineering Design are currently underway to support this expansion.
“The U.S. Department of Energy’s support for the South West Arkansas project demonstrates how important lithium is to America’s energy transition. This award underscores the commercial readiness of our projects and the strength of our partnership," said Allison Thurmond, Equinor Vice President of US Lithium. "We look forward to working with the U.S. Department of Energy and alongside local communities in southwest Arkansas to develop this critical mineral and build the next generation of lithium production."
The SWA project’s DLE and lithium carbonate facilities will be located on a 118-acre property in rural Lafayette County, approximately 7 miles south of Lewisville.
The brine unit that will be used to source lithium-bearing brine for the project facilities spans lands in both Lafayette and Columbia counties.
The project will also create up to 300 construction and 100 direct jobs for the area, plus benefit the local community through infrastructure improvements, community health initiatives, educational partnerships, and workforce development programs.
“We are honored to have been selected for this significant grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. This funding is a strong endorsement of the South West Arkansas project and our efforts to develop a secure and sustainable domestic lithium supply chain. The grant will enable us to accelerate the development of this world-class resource and position the project as a cornerstone of the U.S. battery materials industry," said Dr. Andy Robinson, President and COO of Standard Lithium.
