lithium
2025 Mergers & Acquisitions: Big Deals In State Fall 72%
Without a billion-dollar blockbuster like 2024’s Uniti-Windstream merger, activity shifted toward mid-sized real estate, health care, AI and energy investments. read more >
by Jan Cottingham -
Water Tech Firm Bets Big on Arkansas’ Growing Lithium Industry
Menen Group of Springdale aims to address one of the industry's biggest challenges — concentrating lithium chloride from brine. read more >
by Chloe McGehee -
$1.4B Arkansas Lithium Plant Draws Closer to Reality
The joint venture between Standard Lithium and Equinor is now “ready to progress to a final investment decision.” read more >
Venture Center Launches Nation’s First Lithium Technology Accelerator
The program will bring together Arkansas’ top lithium producers with a hand-picked cohort of technology companies solving problems in energy, materials and mineral processing. read more >
Pantera Lithium Sells Smackover Project to Texas Firm for $26.1M
The deal with EnergyX, a private company backed by General Motors, includes 35,000 acres of lithium leases. read more >
Chevron Enters Arkansas Lithium Market, Acquires TerraVolta Acreage
Chevron has acquired more than 100,000 acres across the Smackover geological formation. read more >
Arkansas Oil & Gas Commission to Weigh New Lithium Royalty Proposal
Smackover Lithium LLC, a joint venture of Standard Lithium and Equinor, has applied for a 2.5% royalty rate on lithium brine. read more >
Hugh McDonald Touts Arkansas Reforms for Job Growth & Capital Investment
The recent legislative session tapped the commerce secretary's expertise in both energy and economic development as he championed laws he believes will boost business in Arkansas. Some are already bearing fruit. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
Trump Fast-Tracks Federal Permitting for Standard Lithium’s Arkansas Project
The billion-dollar lithium production facility in Lafayette County is among 10 large infrastructure projects to receive FAST-41 designation. read more >
![A Standard Lithium employee at its demonstration plant in El Dorado. [Madison Ogle] ]](https://arkansasbusiness.wppcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2023.7.20_Standard_Lithium-20_opt-300x194.jpg)
$225M Federal Grant Closes for Building Arkansas Lithium Plant
David Park, CEO of Standard Lithium, called the grant a major milestone for a project nearly 10 years in the making. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
State Regulators Reject Proposed Lithium Royalty Rate
The decision was unanimous, with Arkansas Oil & Gas Commission members saying the companies failed to prove the rate was fair and equitable. The companies argued that higher royalties could threaten their billion-dollar investment plans. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
Arkansas Oil & Gas Commission Keeps Albemarle in Lithium Royalties Dispute
The commission disregarded an administrative law judge’s recommendation to consider dropping Albemarle from the application. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
Startup Junkie to Lead Regional Lithium Center
The federal Small Business Administration selected Startup Junkie to direct the public-private initiative. read more >
Ellie Baker to Manage Albemarle Land Relationships in Magnolia
She previously was the city of Magnolia’s economic development director, and her hiring signals the company’s effort to improve community engagement and work with brine leaseholders in south Arkansas. read more >
Robert Reynolds on the Lithium Royalty Debate
Reynolds is president of Shuler Drilling in El Dorado and president of the South Arkansas Minerals Association. read more >
A Fair Rate for Lithium (Editorial)
The state must set a fair rate for lithium royalties for the industry to develop to its full potential. read more >
AAEA Offers Economic Development Program
The EACH Initiative will help city and county leaders by providing critical resources, support and capacity-building opportunities. The idea is to overcome constrained budgets and challenges that seem overwhelming, Waldrip said. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
Energy Leadership Requires Partnerships (Rep. Rick Beck and Sen. Ben Gilmore Commentary)
Arkansas has vast potential to develop a lithium industry, but making it happen will require collaboration and investment in infrastructure. read more >
by Rick Beck, Ben Gilmore -
Oil Glut by 2030? Electric Vehicles May Answer
Spare capacity — the amount that oil producers could be pumping but don’t because supplies are adequate — could rise to levels seen in the COVID pandemic, when millions of cars were sitting parked. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
TerraVolta Announces Investment, Lithium Well in Smackover Formation
The Houston-based company is backed by the private Energy & Minerals Group, a major global investor in natural resources. read more >
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