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.

As part of its global lithium strategy, POSCO wraps up DLE technology development and shifts focus to investment and commercialization of North American brine resources

POSCO Holdings has become the first Korean company to launch a demonstration project for Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology in North America, as part of efforts to establish a localized lithium supply chain.
*Demonstration: the process of testing and verifying a new technology or product under real-world conditions

POSCO Holdings signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on June 30 with Australian resource development company Anson Resources to establish and operate a demo plant to demonstrate its DLE technology.

The plant will be built on a site in Green River City, Utah, where Anson holds lithium brine rights. POSCO aims to evaluate the commercial viability of its DLE technology through this initiative.

This demo plant investment is part of POSCO Group’s secondary battery materials strategy, which centers on securing additional lithium resources and advancing future technological competitiveness. POSCO Holdings is currently reshaping its business portfolio under the “2 Core + New Engine” strategy, with a strong focus on expanding the lithium supply chain within its secondary battery materials segment.

Based on the successful operation of the U.S. demo plant, POSCO Holdings plans to bring its independently developed DLE technology to market and accelerate investment and commercialization efforts for untapped lithium brine resources across North America.

Set to break ground next year, the DLE demo plant represents a major strategic investment by POSCO Group as it works to lead in securing future-critical technologies essential to the growth of its lithium business in North America.

The conventional method of extracting lithium from brine involves solar evaporation ponds, which are only commercially viable in regions with strong and consistent sunlight. In contrast, DLE is an innovative process that enables the efficient extraction of lithium from low-concentration brine without the need for large-scale evaporation ponds. This makes DLE a critical technology for developing lithium resources in North America. As a result, global lithium producers are increasingly turning to DLE to unlock low-grade brine resources that were previously considered uneconomical.

Under the MOU, Anson Resources will provide the lithium feedstock and the project site, while POSCO Holdings will conduct a full-scale evaluation of the business potential of its DLE technology. Depending on the results of the demonstration, the two companies will consider forming a strategic partnership and exploring further collaboration.

Meanwhile, POSCO Holdings has already launched two major lithium production facilities: a 25,000-ton-per-year brine-based plant in Argentina, and a 43,000-ton-per-year hard rock lithium plant in the Yulchon Industrial Complex in South Korea. Combined, these plants provide an annual lithium hydroxide production capacity of 68,000 tons, enough to power approximately 1.6 million electric vehicles.