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    EnergyX Project Lonestar DLE plant: capex, scale-up and process notes for mine planners

    March 29, 2026|

    Reviewed by Joe Ashwell

    EnergyX Project Lonestar DLE plant: capex, scale-up and process notes for mine planners

    First reported on MINING.com

    30 Second Briefing

    EnergyX has commissioned Project Lonestar in Hooks, Texas, the first US direct lithium extraction (DLE) plant processing local Smackover formation brines, with a 250 t/y lithium carbonate equivalent demonstration capacity and a US$30 million capex. The integrated DLE and refining facility will generate 5–25 t batches of battery-grade lithium for qualification, validate process economics and recovery performance at industrial scale, and de-risk a planned >US$1 billion commercial plant across EnergyX’s 47,500-acre position. Senator Ted Cruz framed the project as strengthening US energy security and reducing dependence on China’s 70–75% share of global lithium conversion capacity.

    Technical Brief

    • Plant applies EnergyX’s proprietary ‘GET-Lit’ lithium separation technology to Smackover formation brines on-site.
    • Facility is described as the largest integrated DLE lithium demonstration plant currently operating in the United States.
    • Location in the Smackover brine trend (Florida–Texas) leverages EnergyX’s 47,500-acre lease position for scale-up.
    • Capital spend of US$30 million on the demo plant precedes a planned commercial build exceeding US$1 billion.
    • EnergyX claims lowest US cost position for lithium chemicals, targeting improved extraction efficiency and recovery versus incumbents.
    • Offtake agreements for future production are reportedly secured but remain undisclosed, affecting visibility on long-term revenue.
    • US senator Ted Cruz explicitly links Lonestar output to defence battery supply and national energy security objectives.
    • Demonstration of non-Chinese refining capacity directly targets China’s current 70–75% share of global lithium conversion.

    Our Take

    With China still controlling an estimated 70–75% of global lithium chemical conversion capacity, a US‑based DLE demonstration in the Smackover formation that can ship 5–25 tonne LCE samples gives North American offtakers a practical way to qualify non‑Chinese supply chains at commercial scale.

    Our database shows multiple recent EnergyX items spanning DLE, membrane production and nuclear‑grade lithium isotopes, indicating the company is trying to monetise lithium across both battery and advanced nuclear markets rather than relying solely on conventional lithium carbonate demand growth.

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    Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.

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