Standard Lithium and Equinor Joint Venture Secures Over $1 Billion in ECA Interest for Arkansas Lithium Project

The Smackover Lithium joint venture between Standard Lithium Ltd. and Equinor has reported receiving over $1 billion in expressions of interest from major Export Credit Agencies for senior secured project debt to support Phase 1 construction of the South West Arkansas Project. The joint venture is pursuing up to $1.1 billion in limited recourse project financing, which would combine ECA-backed lending and guarantees with an uncovered commercial bank tranche. This financial backing, involving agencies like EXIM and Export Finance Norway, represents a significant vote of confidence in the project's viability and strategic importance to the North American lithium supply chain.

Market sounding with global lenders delivered strong interest at indicative terms that exceeded the targeted debt amount and aligned with expectations on cost, tenor, and structure. Management stated that the response underscores the project's strategic importance and technological de-risking as the joint venture advances toward a Final Investment Decision. All expressions of interest remain subject to due diligence, approvals, and definitive documentation. The full press release regarding the ECA interest can be viewed at https://ibn.fm/Tl1rh.

Standard Lithium is a leading near-commercial lithium development company focused on the sustainable development of a portfolio of large, high-grade lithium-brine properties in the United States. The company prioritizes projects characterized by high-grade resources, robust infrastructure, skilled labor, and streamlined permitting. Standard Lithium aims to achieve sustainable, commercial-scale lithium production via the application of a scalable and fully integrated Direct Lithium Extraction and purification process. More information about the company is available at https://www.standardlithium.com.

The company's flagship projects are in the Smackover Formation, a world-class lithium brine asset, focused in Arkansas and Texas. In partnership with global energy leader Equinor, Standard Lithium is advancing the South West Arkansas Project, a greenfield project located in southern Arkansas, and actively advancing a promising lithium brine resource position in East Texas, including the highest known lithium brine grade project in North America, the Franklin Project. The latest news and updates relating to Standard Lithium are available in the company's newsroom at https://ibn.fm/SLI.

This development carries substantial implications for Texas and the broader energy sector. The strong financial interest from international ECAs indicates that major global institutions recognize the strategic value of establishing a domestic, sustainable lithium supply. For Texas, the joint venture's activities in the Smackover Formation, which extends into East Texas, position the state as a potential future hub for critical mineral production. The advancement of the Franklin Project in Texas, noted as the highest-grade lithium brine resource in North America, could attract significant investment and skilled jobs to the region, diversifying the state's energy economy beyond oil and gas.

The project's focus on Direct Lithium Extraction technology also represents a shift toward more sustainable resource development, which could set a precedent for future mineral extraction projects in Texas. Success in Arkansas could accelerate permitting and investment timelines for the Texas assets, integrating the state more deeply into the battery and electric vehicle supply chains. This financial milestone reduces perceived risk for other investors and could catalyze further development across the Smackover Formation, impacting local economies, infrastructure development, and the national push for energy independence.