Smackover Lithium Awards Final Major Construction Contract for SWA Project
Smackover Lithium says it has now put all key construction contracts in place ahead of a final investment decision on its $1.45 billion South West Arkansas Project, marking another milestone for one of the nation’s most closely watched lithium developments.
Smackover Lithium — the joint venture between Standard Lithium and Norwegian energy giant Equinor — last month awarded an engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning contract to S&B Engineers and Constructors of Houston for the project's central processing facility in Lafayette County.
Hatch Ltd. of Mississauga, Ontario, will support the effort as a subcontractor.
The facility is designed to handle direct lithium extraction, purification and conversion into battery-grade lithium carbonate. Its initial phase is expected to produce 22,500 metric tons annually.
“We are excited to be working with S&B and Hatch who bring deep project experience and share our commitment to safety, operational excellence and disciplined project delivery,” Standard Lithium President and COO Andy Robinson said in a news release. “This partnership reflects the significant progress we have made in engineering and Project definition and positions us to move forward with greater cost and schedule visibility and execution confidence.”
Also last month, Smackover Lithium announced an engineering, procurement and construction management agreement with Wood Group USA Inc. of Houston focused on the upstream well field portion of the SWA Project.
With construction contracts complete, Smackover Lithium says its remaining priorities before a final investment decision are securing additional customer offtake agreements and closing project financing.
More: Read additional coverage from the Magnolia Reporter and the Camden News.
