News Summary
Standard Lithium has announced a collaboration with Equinor to launch a $1.5 billion lithium extraction project in Northeast Texas, specifically near Lewisville, Lafayette County. This project, named the Franklin Project, aims to leverage the area’s rich brine resources, significantly enhancing the region’s potential for green energy and battery production. With lithium concentrations in brine exceeding 600 mg/L, the project represents a monumental step in sustainable energy and economic growth for East Texas.
Texas is witnessing a significant advancement in lithium extraction, with Standard Lithium partnering with Equinor to develop a groundbreaking $1.5 billion brine extraction facility in northeast Texas. Located near Lewisville, within Lafayette County, the facility is set to target more than 100,000 tons of lithium annually, capitalizing on the area’s rich lithium brine resources.
Standard Lithium has been at the forefront of lithium extraction in Arkansas since May 2020, when it launched a pilot plant in El Dorado. Recently, the company’s joint venture, Smackover Lithium, has noted that Texas’s lithium brinefields are more abundant compared to those in Arkansas. Current exploration efforts are concentrated on a substantial 46,000 acres along Interstate 30, west of Mount Pleasant, Texas.
The project encompasses 617 mineral leases across Titus, Franklin, and Hopkins counties under the name Franklin Project, which boasts some of the highest lithium-in-brine grades in North America. To date, Standard Lithium has been actively acquiring brine mineral leases in Texas since 2022, with an ambition to achieve a production goal exceeding 100,000 tons of lithium chemicals each year. Promisingly, brine samples collected from Texas have demonstrated lithium concentrations exceeding 600 milligrams per liter—significantly higher than the typical 300 to 500 milligrams per liter identified in Arkansas.
There is a broader consensus among experts that advancements in Texas are unlikely to compromise ongoing projects in Arkansas, as both areas have the potential to develop simultaneously without impeding each other’s progress. Furthermore, extracting lithium from Arkansas mandates the movement of approximately 30% more brine than what would be necessary for similar yields from Texas.
Smackover Lithium has plans to expand its Texas presence further, aiming to triple its holdings with two proposed projects. Notably, the Pine Forest 1 well near Winterfield has yielded the highest lithium concentration recorded in the state, underscoring the potential of the Texas region.
Standard Lithium’s President and COO has articulated the importance of the Franklin Project for fulfilling future production demands in the Smackover area, specifically to support the South West Arkansas Project. This related initiative includes plans for a commercial-scale lithium extraction plant, with a final investment decision anticipated by the end of 2025. Upon approval, construction is likely to commence in 2026, with the first production targeting a production capacity of 22,500 tons of battery-quality lithium carbonate per year.
Equinor, a significant player in the project, is investing up to $160 million for a 45% stake, while Standard Lithium will retain a controlling 55% share. Enhancing the project’s financial backing, the U.S. Department of Energy granted $225 million in federal funding in January 2025 to bolster the construction through the Battery Materials Processing and Battery Manufacturing Grants Program.
Standard Lithium has highlighted that the East Texas region remains undervalued within its asset portfolio, with expectations of greater recognition as new resource reports become available. Equinor’s Vice President for U.S. lithium has characterized the recent resource report as a vital milestone for the joint venture, signaling expansive possibilities for the lithium sector in the region.
With the tightening global demand for lithium, this substantial investment and collaboration exemplify Texas’s emerging role as a key player in the lithium extraction industry, promising to contribute to the growing electric vehicle market and renewable energy solutions.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
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Author: STAFF HERE COLLEGE WRITER
The COLLEGE STATION STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERECollegeStation.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in College Station, Brazos County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Brazos Valley Fair & Rodeo, Chilifest, and Aggie Muster. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Bryan-College Station Chamber of Commerce and United Way of the Brazos Valley, plus leading businesses in education, biotechnology, and retail that power the local economy such as Texas A&M University, Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, and H-E-B. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HEREDallas.com, HEREHouston.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
