Intrepid, Aquatech, and Adionics advance Utah lithium project, successfully producing battery-grade lithium carbonate from brine, supporting U.S. critical mineral supply.
Intrepid Potash, Inc., Aquatech International, LLC, and Adionics have reported meaningful progress in their collaborative effort to develop a lithium project in Wendover, Utah, aimed at strengthening the domestic supply of critical minerals in the United States. The partners have successfully completed a series of demonstration and validation tests that resulted in the production of battery-grade lithium carbonate from byproduct brine generated at Intrepid’s existing potash operations in Wendover.
The latest test work highlights the technical feasibility of converting post-process brine into a high-purity lithium product suitable for battery manufacturing. During the trials, Adionics’ direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology achieved a lithium recovery rate of 92.9%, while producing lithium chloride with a purity exceeding 99.5%. This lithium-rich intermediate was then processed by Aquatech to validate downstream conversion and refining. Aquatech’s testing confirmed that the lithium-rich brine could be further refined into lithium carbonate with a purity of at least 99.5%, meeting critical specifications required by battery producers.
These results mark an important milestone for the potential development of a lithium processing facility in Wendover, Utah. The successful demonstration strengthens confidence in the technical flowsheet and supports continued progress under the existing Joint Development Agreement (JDA). With the validation phase completed, the three companies plan to advance their evaluation of a commercial-scale lithium facility, leveraging the advantages of Intrepid’s existing infrastructure and the naturally occurring lithium in its brine streams.
Kevin Crutchfield, Chief Executive Officer of Intrepid Potash, emphasized the strategic importance of the collaboration. He noted that advancements in DLE technologies have arrived at a pivotal moment, as the United States has placed renewed emphasis on increasing domestic production of critical minerals such as lithium. According to Crutchfield, Intrepid’s Wendover operations offer a differentiated opportunity due to their established infrastructure and the presence of lithium in post-process brine. He expressed optimism that the Wendover lithium project could become one of the first new domestic lithium projects to reach the market. At the same time, Intrepid intends to carefully manage capital exposure and risk, maintaining its focus on core fertilizer operations while seeking to unlock additional value by monetizing lithium from its magnesium chloride brine, thereby improving margins at Wendover.
Aquatech’s Chief Executive Officer, Devesh Sharma, highlighted the competitive advantages of the project. He pointed to the ability to source brine directly from an operating potash facility as a significant benefit, reducing development complexity and costs. Combined with the high lithium concentration in the resource, Aquatech expects the integrated process design to deliver attractive marginal production costs. Sharma noted that this positions the project to produce domestically sourced lithium at a scale and cost structure capable of competing with international benchmarks.
François-Xavier Rame, CEO of Adionics, underscored the effectiveness of the company’s liquid-liquid DLE technology in handling complex brine chemistries. He stated that the preliminary results confirm the technology’s ability to efficiently recover lithium while maintaining high purity levels. Rame added that the collaboration reflects Adionics’ broader ambition to deliver practical, resource-efficient solutions for lithium extraction that can support the energy transition.
Under the Joint Development Agreement, Intrepid, Aquatech, and Adionics have established a structured framework to advance the project. This includes completing detailed feasibility studies and engineering for a lithium extraction facility with an initial capacity target of 5,000 metric tonnes per year, with the objective of reaching a final investment decision in 2026. The agreement also outlines steps to further develop project design and negotiate definitive agreements necessary for construction and operation. The envisioned facility would integrate Intrepid’s Wendover infrastructure, Aquatech’s design and operational expertise, and Adionics’ DLE technology to convert post-process brine into battery-grade lithium carbonate.
