Anson and POSCO signed a definitive agreement to build a Utah DLE demonstration plant, advancing U.S. lithium supply chain development.
Anson Resources Limited has entered into a definitive Demonstration Plant Agreement with POSCO Holdings Inc. to establish and operate a Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) demonstration facility at the Green River Lithium Project, located in the Paradox Basin of Utah, United States. The agreement marks a major milestone for Anson as it transitions from initial collaboration discussions to a binding partnership with one of South Korea’s leading industrial and battery materials companies, further strengthening the project’s pathway toward commercial lithium production.
The formal agreement was signed at POSCO Holdings’ headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, by Anson Resources Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bruce Richardson and POSCO Holdings Chief Executive Officer Lee Ju-Tae. Following the signing ceremony, Richardson also visited POSCO’s advanced secondary battery manufacturing complex in Gwangyang, highlighting the growing strategic relationship between the two companies and their shared interest in expanding the global battery materials supply chain.
Under the terms of the agreement, POSCO will design, construct, operate, and maintain a non-commercial DLE demonstration plant that will process lithium-rich brines sourced from Anson’s Bosydaba #1 well at the Green River Lithium Project. The demonstration facility will allow POSCO to validate the efficiency and performance of its lithium extraction technology under continuous industrial-scale operating conditions, providing important technical data to assess future commercial development opportunities.
POSCO will fully finance the engineering, construction, operation, and maintenance costs associated with the demonstration plant. In addition, the company will provide Anson with a facilitation payment of approximately AUD 7.2 million (equivalent to around USD 5.2 million) for supporting the project through access to land, infrastructure, and a reliable supply of brine. The agreement will remain in effect until December 2028, with POSCO targeting the commencement of demonstration plant operations in 2027 and completion of the testing program in 2028.
The partnership represents a significant technical and commercial endorsement of Anson’s Green River Lithium Project. By conducting continuous demonstration-scale testing, the project will reduce technological uncertainties associated with DLE processing and provide valuable validation of the project’s ability to produce lithium efficiently and at potentially lower costs. This progress enhances Green River’s position as an emerging contributor to the United States’ domestic battery supply chain, a sector receiving increasing attention as North America seeks greater self-sufficiency in critical minerals required for electric vehicle manufacturing and energy storage technologies.
Beyond the demonstration phase, Anson and POSCO have agreed to continue evaluating broader business opportunities, including the potential for joint investment and future collaboration in the commercial development of the Green River project. These discussions align with the objectives outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the companies in June 2025 and indicate a long-term strategic approach toward developing a sustainable lithium supply network.
Commenting on the agreement, Anson Executive Chairman and CEO Bruce Richardson described the partnership as a transformational advancement for the Green River Lithium Project. He emphasized that moving from a non-binding memorandum to a definitive agreement reflects POSCO’s confidence in the quality and potential of the project, while also demonstrating the increasing importance of establishing secure domestic lithium supplies in the United States.
POSCO Holdings stated that the agreement will support the company’s efforts to verify its Direct Lithium Extraction technology in the U.S. market and evaluate potential commercialization opportunities for future lithium production. The company believes that cooperation with Anson Resources will contribute to strengthening North America’s battery materials ecosystem and improving supply chain resilience.
POSCO Holdings is a globally diversified industrial group with major operations in steel, energy, and advanced battery materials. As part of its long-term strategy to support the global transition toward electric mobility, the company is developing an extensive international lithium supply network. POSCO has secured annual lithium production capacity of approximately 93,000 tonnes through operations and investments in Argentina and South Korea, while also maintaining significant interests in both lithium brine and hard-rock resources across South America and Australia. The company continues to advance proprietary Direct Lithium Extraction technologies aimed at enabling faster, more efficient, and lower-carbon lithium production.
