Lithium in Arkansas
In the heart of south Arkansas, the Smackover Formation offers some of the largest lithium reserves in North America. Arkansas provides the perfect home base for companies in the lithium industry to succeed with its business-friendly environment, strong workforce, and supportive public policy.
The Smackover Formation
Industry Expansion in Arkansas
Arkansas May Have Vast Lithium Reserves, Researchers Say
October 2024
Federal and state researchers said there might be five million to 19 million tons of lithium, more than enough to meet the world’s demand for the battery ingredient.
Researchers at the United States Geological Survey and the Arkansas government announced on Monday that they had found a trove of lithium, a critical raw material for electric vehicle batteries, in an underground brine reservoir in Arkansas.
Southern state could become 'white gold' boom town after $150 billion lithium reserve discovery
October 2024
Arkansas is sitting on a $150 billion 'hidden treasure' trove of lithium that could meet the global demand for EV batteries by 2030.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) found between five and 19 million tons of lithium in the Smackover Formation, which is nine times the amount needed to meet the ongoing electric vehicle demand in the US by the end of the decade.
The metal is a necessary component for batteries used in EVs and can be extracted from the brine wastewater from the same mines that produce oil and gas.
U.S. Department of Energy awards $225 million to lithium efforts in Southwest Arkansas
September 2024
Standard Lithium Ltd. and Equinor announced Friday (Sept. 20) that its jointly-owned U.S. subsidiary, SWA Lithium LLC has been selected for up to $225 million from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
This selection is one of the largest ever awarded to a U.S. critical minerals project and is part of the second wave of funding under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) aimed at expanding domestic manufacturing of all segments of the battery supply chain and increasing production of critical minerals in the U.S.
Equinor enters partnership with Standard Lithium
May 2024
Equinor has entered into an agreement with Standard Lithium Ltd to acquire a 45% share in two lithium project companies in Southwest Arkansas and East Texas.
“Sustainably produced lithium can be an enabler in the energy transition, and we believe it can become an attractive business. This investment is an option with limited upfront financial commitment. We can utilise core technologies from oil and gas in a complementary partnership to mature these projects towards a possible final investment decision,” says Morten Halleraker, senior vice president for New Business and Investments in Technology, Digital and Innovation at Equinor.
January 2024
TETRA Technologies, Inc. announced the completion of a Technical Resources Study for its 6,138 acre "Evergreen Brine Unit" in Arkansas. TETRA previously announced the Evergreen Brine Unit comprises brine assets contributed by TETRA and Saltwerx, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of ExxonMobil, that was unanimously approved in September 2023 by the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission to form the first newly established brine unit in Arkansas in nearly 28 years.
Governor Sanders and State and Local Leaders Welcome ExxonMobil’s Investment in Arkansas Lithium
November 2023
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders joined ExxonMobil and state leaders today to announce that the company will drill its first lithium well in Arkansas, making an early investment in what could be one of the largest supplies of lithium in North America. Governor Sanders and other Arkansas leaders applauded the company’s development of the Natural State’s lithium sector.
Fact Sheets
Arkansas is a lithium-rich state with many opportunities for the growth of this industry. Download the fact sheets to learn more about the lithium industry and how Arkansas is capitalizing on this sector’s growth.
In February 2024, the inaugural Arkansas Lithium Innovation Summit was held in Little Rock to spotlight the importance of the lithium industry and the opportunities the sector offers in the state. Executives, industry experts, state and local officials, and policymakers gathered for the sold out summit to learn about the opportunities and challenges for the lithium industry in Arkansas.
Contact Us
The Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s Business Development team is ready to help companies looking to locate and expand in Arkansas.
About the Arkansas Economic Development Commission
At AEDC, we know economic advancement doesn’t happen by accident. We work strategically with businesses and communities to create strong economic opportunities, making Arkansas the natural choice for success. AEDC is a division of the Arkansas Department of Commerce. For more information, visit ArkansasEDC.com.
