Field-Pilot DLE Facility Exceeds Key Performance Criteria to Confirm Engineering Design for South West Arkansas Project Large Volumes of DLE Product Sent to Third Party Vendors for Conversion to Battery-Quality Lithium Carbonate – These Samples Will Be Used in the Qualification Process With Potential Off-Take Partners LEWISVILLE, Ark., March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Smackover Lithium, a Joint Venture (“JV”) between Standard Lithium Ltd. (“Standard Lithium” or the “Company”) (TSXV:SLI) (NYSE:A:SLI) and Equinor, has achieved one of the last technical milestones in the development of the South West Arkansas (“SWA”) project located in Lafayette and Columbia Counties, Arkansas.

The JV, in partnership with Koch Technology Solutions (“KTS”), successfully completed the final Direct Lithium Extraction (“DLE”) derisking step for the SWA project, a critical step toward commercialization. Over a three-month period, the JV and its partners operated an onsite DLE field-pilot plant, where it surpassed key performance criteria (more details provided below). Additionally, large-volume samples of the concentrated and purified DLE product have been sent to third-party vendors.

These vendors will convert the DLE product into battery-quality lithium carbonate while also being assessed as potential equipment suppliers for the commercial project. The resulting samples will play a key role in the qualification process with prospective off-take partners. Highlights of th.