ALTA Wraps 2nd Cohort; Smackover Lithium Draws $1B in Financing Interest
In This Edition:
We recap ALTA’s second cohort wrapping up with a Demo Day in Bentonville and dig into new $1 billion-plus financing interest for Smackover Lithium’s flagship SWA Project.
ALTA graduates its second cohort as lithium, water and battery innovators pitch investors and pursue Arkansas expansion.
Smackover Lithium draws major export credit agency interest while federal permitting reform could speed billion-dollar projects.
Let’s dive in!
ALTA Wraps Its 2nd Cohort at Bentonville Demo Day
Members of the second ALTA cohort pose with leaders from The Venture Center, Standard Lithium and the University of Arkansas at the Record in Bentonville. (Photo by The Venture Center)
The Arkansas Lithium Technology Accelerator (ALTA) capped its second three-week program Wednesday night with a Demo Day at the Record in Bentonville, where cohort companies pitched their technologies and Arkansas growth plans to investors, industry leaders and ecosystem partners.
ALTA is the nation’s only accelerator focused specifically on the lithium and battery supply chain, and it’s designed to help position Arkansas as a full-spectrum hub — from Smackover brine extraction to advanced materials and batteries.
Created by The Venture Center with Standard Lithium and the University of Arkansas, ALTA connects high-potential companies to pilot and commercial opportunities, investors, state incentives, academic expertise and workforce pipelines. The second cohort launched Dec. 1 in El Dorado and included programming across South Arkansas, Little Rock and Northwest Arkansas.
Beyond Demo Day, the cohort met with state and local officials, educators, workforce leaders and toured Standard Lithium’s DLE demonstration plant and Tetra Technologies’ bromine project.
What’s Next
ALTA organizers say conversations sparked during the program are expected to continue as companies pursue pilots, partnerships and potential Arkansas-based expansion.
Commerce Secretary Hugh McDonald speaks to members of the second ALTA cohort during a Dec. 8 event in Little Rock. (Photo by Lance Turner)
KATV: Arkansas Is ‘Turning Heads’
Little Rock ABC affiliate KATV-TV, Channel 7, interviews Venture Center Executive Director Arthur Orduña and members of the ALTA cohort at a Dec. 8 event in Little Rock:
More: Business and political columnist Steve Brawner also met with cohort members. He writes about the business development strategy that might help the state truly profit from its abundant lithium reserves.
Smackover Lithium Draws $1B in Financing Interest for SWA Project
Smackover Lithium — the Standard Lithium-Equinor joint venture — said last week that it has received interest from three export credit agencies for more than $1 billion in senior secured project debt to fund Phase 1 of its South West Arkansas (SWA) Project, a key milestone as the venture works toward a final investment decision.
The financing interest underscores institutional confidence in Arkansas’ emerging lithium sector and in Smackover Lithium’s plan to deploy direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology at commercial scale in the Smackover Formation.
In a news release, Standard Lithium said the joint venture received non-binding expressions of interest from three export credit agencies, including the U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM) and Norway’s Export Finance Norway (Eksfin), for more than $1 billion in senior secured project debt.
According to Reuters, the joint venture is seeking up to $1.1 billion in senior secured debt to cover most of the estimated $1.45 billion cost of building Phase 1, with additional participation expected from commercial banks.
The SWA Project is planned for Lafayette County near Lewisville in southwest Arkansas and would produce battery-grade lithium carbonate from Smackover brine using DLE technology. Standard Lithium operates the joint venture with a 55% stake; Equinor holds 45%.
What’s Next
Smackover Lithium is advancing front-end engineering, definitive feasibility work, offtake discussions and lender due diligence. The ECA interests are not commitments and remain subject to approvals and final documentation.
If financing and offtake agreements align, the joint venture aims to reach a final investment decision and move toward construction, positioning Arkansas for its first commercial lithium production.
Company officials have said they would like to break ground on the SWA Project in 2026.
More: Get more coverage of the financing interest from Reuters and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
What We’re Reading
Here’s a quick sample of other lithium-related news we’re reading and watching:
The U.S. House approves Rep. Bruce Westerman’s bill to speed infrastructure permits. | Read the article
The Venture Center announces a technical advisory council for its Arkansas Lithium Technology Accelerator. Members include representatives from South Arkansas’ major lithium players. | Read the article
U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton says Arkansas is the key to a domestic lithium supply. | Read the article
Lithium prices surge in China after authorities plan to revoke mining licences. | Read the article
