POSCO and Anson Resources Team Up on Utah Lithium Extraction Plant
South Korean steel giant POSCO and Anson Resources are partnering to build a direct lithium extraction demonstration plant in Utah.
South Korean industrial conglomerate POSCO (PKX) and Australian lithium developer Anson Resources have announced a partnership to develop a direct lithium extraction (DLE) demonstration plant in Utah, marking a significant step in the race to commercialize next-generation lithium production technology on American soil.
DLE technology represents a meaningful departure from conventional lithium recovery methods, which typically rely on slow, land-intensive evaporation ponds. By selectively pulling lithium from brine using chemical or physical processes, DLE promises faster output, lower water consumption, and a smaller environmental footprint — attributes that have made it a focal point for investors and policymakers alike as demand for battery-grade lithium accelerates.
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For POSCO, whose materials subsidiary has aggressively expanded into the battery supply chain in recent years, the Utah project adds a North American dimension to its lithium ambitions. For Anson Resources, which holds lithium brine assets in Utah's Paradox Basin, securing a partner with POSCO's technical and financial scale could be transformative for a junior developer navigating the capital-intensive path from resource to production.
The demonstration plant phase is critical precisely because DLE has yet to prove itself at commercial scale across diverse brine chemistries. A successful pilot would not only de-risk Anson's asset but could also validate POSCO's proprietary or licensed DLE approach for broader deployment — a competitive advantage worth considerable strategic value as the global battery supply chain undergoes rapid geographic realignment driven partly by U.S. policy incentives.
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