POSCO Holdings announced on the 30th that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Anson Resources to establish and operate a demo plant for demonstrating direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology.
Anson Resources, based in Australia, is a resource development corporation that holds a lithium brine mining concession in Green River City, Utah, USA. POSCO Holdings plans to build a demo plant at this site to verify the commercialization potential of the DLE technology.
Under the memorandum of understanding, Anson Resources will provide lithium raw materials and the site, and POSCO Holdings will begin verifying the commercial viability of the DLE technology. They also agreed to consider additional collaboration opportunities, including building strategic partnerships, based on the demonstration results.
The push for investment in the DLE demo plant is part of a strategy focused on securing additional lithium resources and strengthening future technological competitiveness within the group's secondary battery materials business.
POSCO Holdings is reorganizing its business portfolio around '2Core + New Engine,' focusing on expanding the lithium resource supply chain among its secondary battery materials business.
POSCO Holdings intends to successfully operate the demo plant in the U.S. to complete the commercialization of the DLE technology, which it has independently developed since 2016, and actively utilize it for investment and commercialization in undeveloped lithium brine fields in North America.
POSCO Holdings noted, 'The DLE demo plant, which will begin construction next year, holds great significance as an investment for securing future key technologies necessary for the expansion of POSCO Group's lithium business in North America.'