Standard Lithium and Equinor JV Secures Over $1 Billion in ECA Interest for Arkansas Lithium Project

The Smackover Lithium joint venture between Standard Lithium Ltd. (NYSE American: SLI) and Equinor has reported receiving more than $1 billion in expressions of interest from major Export Credit Agencies for senior secured project debt to support Phase 1 construction of the South West Arkansas Project. The expressions of interest come from agencies including EXIM and Export Finance Norway, indicating strong institutional support for the lithium development initiative. The joint venture is pursuing up to $1.1 billion in limited recourse project financing that would combine ECA-backed lending and guarantees with an uncovered commercial bank tranche.

Market sounding with global lenders delivered strong interest at indicative terms that exceeded the targeted debt amount and aligned with expectations on cost, tenor and structure. This financial interest demonstrates significant confidence in the project's viability and strategic positioning within the growing lithium market. Management stated that the response underscores the Project's strategic importance and technological de-risking as the joint venture advances toward a Final Investment Decision. The South West Arkansas Project represents a greenfield development located in southern Arkansas, situated within the Smackover Formation, which is recognized as a world-class lithium brine asset.

The financing development comes as Standard Lithium focuses on the sustainable development of a portfolio of large, high-grade lithium-brine properties in the United States. The company prioritizes projects characterized by high-grade resources, robust infrastructure, skilled labor, and streamlined permitting. Standard Lithium aims to achieve sustainable, commercial-scale lithium production via the application of a scalable and fully integrated Direct Lithium Extraction and purification process. The company maintains additional information about its operations and projects available through its corporate website at https://www.standardlithium.com.

While the expressions of interest represent a significant milestone, all proposals remain subject to due diligence, approvals and definitive documentation. The joint venture continues to advance the South West Arkansas Project alongside its promising lithium brine resource position in East Texas, which includes the Franklin Project that represents the highest known lithium brine grade project in North America. The financing interest from Export Credit Agencies signals growing institutional recognition of lithium's critical role in the energy transition and the strategic value of domestic lithium production capabilities in the United States.