Anson to host South Korean lithium DLE plant at its brines in Utah
Anson Resources has signed a definitive demonstration plant agreement with South Korean steel and battery materials producer POSCO Holdings for the construction and operation of a direct lithium extraction (DLE) demonstration facility at the Green River lithium project in the Paradox Basin, Utah, in the US.
The agreement between the companies establishes a framework under which POSCO will operate its own non-commercial DLE demonstration plant designed to validate lithium extraction at continuous industrial scale. POSCO will source lithium from brines produced from the Bosydaba #1 well owned by Anson at the Green River project.
POSCO will be responsible for engineering, construction, operation and maintenance of the facility, while Anson will provide access to property, infrastructure and brine supply. POSCO will pay Anson a facilitation fee of A$7.2-million, or $5.2-million.
POSCO is expected to start operating the demonstration plant in 2027 and complete the validation work in 2028.
The two companies will continue to explore potential business cooperation opportunities, including joint investment in the Green River project, during the operation of the demonstration plant.
Anson chairperson and CEO Bruce Richardson says the partnership with POSCO demonstrates strong industry validation of Green River’s low-cost lithium potential; accelerates technical derisking through continuous demonstration-scale testing; and positions Green River as a key participant in the emerging US domestic battery materials supply chain.
In turn, POSCO is excited to advance validation of DLE technology in the US and evaluate commercialisation pathways for future low-carbon lithium production.
“We believe collaboration with Anson at Green River will contribute to strengthening the North American lithium supply chain.”