Standard Lithium (SLI) Clears Two Big Hurdles Toward A Final Decision

Standard Lithium and Equinor's Smackover Lithium partnership announced a Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Franklin lithium project in East Texas. The project has an unlevered after-tax NPV of $5.0B, IRR of 24.0%, and a 3.1-year payback period. It aims for 70,000 tonnes of annual lithium carbonate production, with initial output possible in the early 2030s. The project requires $3.5B in initial capital expenditure.

Standard Lithium (SLI) rose 32.6% in August 2026 due to five key developments: DOE approval for its SWA project, construction contracts, a resource report for its Texas project, successful lithium carbonate testing, and an offtake agreement with LG Energy Solution. The company has $137M in cash and no long-term debt. SLI is down 46% YTD as of the article's writing.

Standard Lithium and Equinor's Smackover Lithium partnership announced a positive Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Franklin project in Texas. The project could produce up to 70,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate annually, with initial production starting in the early 2030s. The estimated capital cost is $3.5 billion, with average annual cash operating costs of $4,226 per tonne. The project also has significant bromide and potash resources, though potash is not included in the current economi

Standard Lithium and Equinor's partnership, Smackover Lithium, released a positive Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Franklin Project in Texas. The project has an unlevered after-tax NPV of $5.0 billion, an IRR of 24%, and potential annual production of 70,000 tonnes of battery-quality lithium carbonate. The project also has potential for bromine and potash production, with capital intensity estimated at $49,945 per tonne.

Standard Lithium (SLI) and Equinor announced a positive Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Franklin lithium project in Texas. The project has an unlevered after-tax NPV of $5.0B, an IRR of 24%, and a capital cost estimate of $3.5B. It aims to produce up to 70,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate annually, with production potentially starting in the early 2030s.

Smackover Lithium, a joint venture between Standard Lithium (NYSE.A: SLI, TSXV: SLI) and Equinor, signed a 10-year offtake agreement with LG Energy Solution for 8,000 metric tonnes/year of lithium carbonate. This deal, plus a prior one with Trafigura, covers 90% of the SWA Project's targeted offtake volume. The agreement supports project financing, with a Final Investment Decision expected this year and production planned for 2029.