POSCO Holdings to pilot direct lithium extraction technology in US, first by a Korean firm

POSCO Holdings is moving to become the first Korean company to demonstrate direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology in the United States, accelerating its push to secure next-generation lithium production capabilities.

The company announced Wednesday that it signed a cooperation agreement with Australian resource developer Anson Resources at POSCO Center in Seoul to build and operate a DLE demonstration plant in Green River, Utah.

DLE enables economically viable lithium production even from low-concentration brine deposits. It offers higher lithium recovery rates and shorter production timelines than conventional evaporation methods, drawing growing attention as a next-generation extraction technology.

Under the agreement, POSCO Holdings will oversee the design, construction and operation of the demonstration plant in the United States to verify the commercial viability of its DLE technology. Anson Resources will provide the site, infrastructure and brine, and support local operations including permitting for the facility.

POSCO Holdings began developing DLE technology in 2016 and has since built up its expertise through pilot tests on a range of resources, including brine from Argentina.

The demonstration project marks the first time POSCO Holdings will validate its independently developed DLE technology in a global market setting. The company expects the project to prove that its technology can achieve economic viability even with low-grade brine resources, strengthening its competitiveness in the global brine lithium development market.

The project is also expected to serve as a foothold for expanding POSCO Holdings' lithium business in North America and contribute to building a stable lithium supply chain grounded in its proprietary technology.

"This demonstration is a strategic investment to preemptively secure next-generation technology and establish a leading position in the global lithium market," POSCO Holdings President Lee Ju-tae said. "We will further strengthen our competitiveness in lithium businesses across North America and beyond, backed by our unrivaled technological edge."

POSCO Holdings aims to complete construction of the demonstration plant and begin operation in 2027, with plans to finish technology verification using actual brine by 2028 and lay the groundwork for full commercialization.