DLE Weekly delivers the latest insights on Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technologies, industry developments, and market trends. Stay tuned to see how DLE is shaping the future of sustainable energy.
DLE Weekly - September 26 2025
Global Business, BICHEM Group
Argentina Lithium Project Begins Production
On September 12, Zijin Mining’s subsidiary, Liex, officially launched production at its 3Q lithium brine project in Fiambalá, Catamarca Province, Argentina. The facility, with a designed annual capacity of 20,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium carbonate, marks a significant step in the Chinese mining giant’s global lithium strategy. As Zijin’s first lithium brine project in South America, the development represents both a major breakthrough in its new energy portfolio and a showcase of Zijin’s rapid development. From project handover to commissioning, construction was completed in just 18 months. It sets a new benchmark for lithium brine developments in Argentina’s high-altitude salt flats and highlights the efficiency of Chinese enterprises in complex geopolitical environments.
Located in Argentina’s northwest, within the resource-rich “Lithium Triangle”, the 3Q brine project ranks among the world’s top three in lithium grades. It hosts a total lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) resource of 7.63 million tonnes, with an average lithium concentration of 786 mg/L. Using an “evaporation concentration + precipitation purification” process, Phase I is designed to produce 20,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium carbonate annually, with purity levels exceeding 99.5%.
Lithium Developer Expands U.S. Lithium Footprint with Arkansas Acquisition
Pantera Lithium has announced that its shareholders have approved the sale of subsidiary Daytona Lithium to Puerto Rico–based lithium developer EnergyX. Daytona holds lithium rights in southwest Arkansas, where EnergyX is advancing its Lonestar Lithium project in the Smackover Formation and nearing completion of a demonstration plant. Earlier this summer, EnergyX also acquired 35,000 acres of mineral rights for $26 million, bringing its total land position in the Smackover to 47,500 acres.
Stretching from Florida to Texas, the Smackover Formation hosts lithium-rich brines with an estimated resource potential of more than 4 million tonnes of lithium, enough to supply batteries for millions of electric vehicles and electronic devices. To date, EnergyX has raised over $110 million from investors including General Motors, Italian energy company Eni, and South Korea’s POSCO. Its expansion strategy also includes a 2023 acquisition of 90,000 acres of lithium concessions in Chile and the 2024 purchase of a 40,000-square-foot production facility in Austin, Texas.
Major Lithium Mine in China Set to Resume Production After License Renewal
CATL’s lithium mine in Yichun, Jiangxi Province, China, is on track to resume production soon, with the renewal of its mining rights and permits advancing more smoothly than expected. A work resumption meeting has already been held, and the first batch of employees assigned to support nearby battery plants will be recalled shortly.
The mine was suspended after its mining license expired on August 9, triggering volatility in lithium prices. CATL previously confirmed that it had submitted a complete renewal application to Yichun’s Natural Resources Bureau, and that the suspension would have only limited impact on its overall operations. The upcoming restart sends a positive signal to the market and is expected to ease concerns over tight lithium supply.
Australian Lithium Developer Exits Market
Australia’s Leo Lithium has announced plans to fully exit the market by selling off its remaining assets and returning at least A$330 million (US$220 million) to shareholders. Earlier this year, the company distributed A$207 million in dividends, with the latest payout funded primarily through its complete withdrawal from the Goulamina lithium project in Mali, where it had already sold its 40% stake to China’s Ganfeng Lithium. Under pressure from its largest shareholder, Firefinch, the company has scheduled a shareholder vote for November. It also faces an automatic delisting on September 22 due to prolonged trading suspension, though management remains in discussions with the ASX regarding a potential relisting.
Water Purification Firm Expands Lithium Extraction Portfolio Through Strategic Acquisition
Aquatech, a water purification technology provider, has announced the acquisition of Koch Technology Solutions’ (KTS) direct lithium extraction (DLE) business, incorporating the Li-Pro™ lithium selective sorption (LSS) technology and its extensive intellectual property portfolio into Aquatech’s PEARL™ process technology platform. As part of the deal, all ongoing lithium projects using Li-Pro technology, along with related licenses, agreements, and performance guarantees, will be transferred to Aquatech.
This includes KTS’s role in its joint development agreement (JDA) with Standard Lithium in the Smackover Formation, where Li-Pro has already achieved over 12,000 operational cycles at a demonstration plant, delivering an average lithium recovery rate of more than 95%. KTS had also entered into a licensing agreement with Smackover Lithium, a joint venture between Standard Lithium and Equinor, for the Phase I development of the Southwest Arkansas project.
Texas Lithium Project Reports Record Brine Grades
Smackover Lithium, a joint venture between Standard Lithium and Equinor, has reported its first inferred resource estimate for the Franklin project in northeast Texas, with brine grades reaching 806 mg/L lithium, the highest recorded in North America. The resource is estimated to contain approximately 2.159 million tonnes of LCE. The company outlined plans to develop staged production in Texas, targeting more than 100,000 tonnes per year of lithium chemicals, with potential expansion into additional projects.
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