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Photo = Yonhap news |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] Seoul, June 30, 2025 — POSCO Holdings announced today that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Australian resource developer Anson Resources to build and operate a demonstration plant for lithium direct extraction (DLE) technology in the United States. The project marks the first time a Korean company will directly produce lithium on U.S. soil.
The plant will be located in Green River City, Utah, where Anson Resources owns lithium brine mining rights. Under the agreement, Anson will provide the site and raw materials, while POSCO Holdings will deploy and verify the commercial feasibility of its proprietary DLE technology. Construction of the demonstration plant is scheduled to begin next year.
This initiative is a strategic move by POSCO Holdings to establish a North American lithium supply chain amid growing demand for electric vehicle (EV) batteries and ongoing U.S. trade policy uncertainties. If successful, the project could progress to commercial production and minimize risks from potential tariff shifts under the Trump administration.
Unlike conventional solar evaporation methods—which require abundant sunlight and large land areas—DLE technology enables efficient lithium production even in regions where land and climate conditions are less favorable. As such, it is viewed as a key innovation for securing stable lithium supplies in North America.
POSCO Holdings has prioritized lithium supply chain expansion as part of Chairman Jeong-Woo Choi’s “2 Core + New Engine” strategy to strengthen the company’s secondary battery materials portfolio.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
