Signed a cooperation agreement for a DLE demo plant in Utah, U.S, with Anson Resources, marking the first local demonstration in the U.S. by a Korean company
Applying proprietary DLE technology, aiming for operation by 2027 and completion of technology verification by 2028
Strengthening global resource supply chain competitiveness under the strategy of “technological superiority and securing high-quality resources”
POSCO Holdings is accelerating the strengthening of its competitiveness in next-generation lithium extraction technology by becoming the first Korean company to conduct a direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology demonstration in the U.S.
On June 10, POSCO Holdings signed a cooperation agreement with Anson Resources, an Australian resource development company, at the POSCO Center in Seoul to build and operate a DLE demonstration plant in the Green River region of Utah, U.S.
DLE is a technology that can economically produce lithium from low-concentration lithium brines. It is drawing significant attention as a next-generation core technology in the global lithium industry due to its higher recovery rate and shorter production period compared to traditional evaporation methods.
Under this cooperation agreement, POSCO Holdings will verify the commercial viability of the technology across the entire process of designing, constructing, and operating the DLE demo plant in the U.S. Anson Resources will provide the site, infrastructure, and brine, while handling the overall permitting process for plant construction using its local network.
POSCO Holdings has been developing DLE technology since 2016, accumulating expertise in process design and overall operations by conducting pilot tests on brines from various regions, including Argentine brines.
This demonstration is highly significant as it marks the first time POSCO Holdings is validating its independently developed DLE technology in the global market, serving as a crucial starting point to confirm the commercial viability of next-generation lithium production technology. Furthermore, by proving its technological capability to secure economic feasibility even from low-grade resources, POSCO Holdings is expected to further strengthen its technological edge in the global brine lithium development market. It is also anticipated to lay the groundwork for expanding its lithium business in North America and establish a stable lithium supply chain based on its proprietary technology.
POSCO Holdings aims to complete and operate the demo plant by 2027 and plans to establish a foundation for commercialization by completing technology verification using actual brine by 2028.
Lee Ju-tae, President of POSCO Holdings, stated, “This demonstration is a strategic investment to preemptively secure next-generation technology and dominate the global lithium market. Based on our unrivaled technological competitiveness, we will further strengthen the competitiveness of our global lithium business, including in North America.”
Meanwhile, POSCO Holdings is pursuing “preemptive acquisition of high-quality resources” along with “absolute technological superiority” as the group’s core growth strategies. By combining the acquisition of premier resources, such as Argentine lithium brines and Australian mines, with the development of next-generation lithium production technologies, the company plans to lead the realization of “Sojae-Boguk” (contributing to national development through materials) by strengthening its competitiveness in the global resource supply chain.
▲ POSCO Holdings signed a cooperation agreement with Anson Resources on June 10 at the POSCO Center in Seoul for the construction and operation of a direct lithium extraction (DLE) demonstration plant in the Green River area of Utah, U.S.
(From left) POSCO Holdings’ Lee Dae-gyun, Senior Manager; Lee Sung-won, Head of the Energy Materials Business Development Office; and Lee Ju-tae, President; Anson Resources’ Bruce Richardson, CEO; Tim Murray, Director; and Mathew Beattie, CFO.