01:43:47 EDT Tue 30 Apr 2024
Enter Symbol
or Name
USA
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Standard Lithium Ltd
Symbol SLI
Shares Issued 172,752,197
Close 2023-11-09 C$ 3.67
Market Cap C$ 634,000,563
Recent Sedar Documents

Standard Lithium has Sept. 30 cash of $37.2M (U.S.)

2023-11-09 20:16 ET - News Release

Mr. Robert Mintak reports

STANDARD LITHIUM REPORTS FISCAL FIRST QUARTER 2024 RESULTS

Standard Lithium Ltd. has released its financial and operating results for the fiscal first quarter 2024 ended Sept. 30, 2023.

"This quarter has marked a pivotal advancement in our journey towards establishing a new benchmark for scalable and sustainable lithium production in the United States. The completion of our phase 1A definitive feasibility study is a key milestone, advancing our planned first commercial lithium project, which is a modest scale-up from our operating direct lithium extraction demonstration plant. The preliminary feasibility study for our South West Arkansas project has identified the potential for a considerably larger-scale operation with a lithium grade that significantly enhances our resource profile and potential production capacity, increasing the overall strategic value of our business," noted Robert Mintak, chief executive officer of Standard Lithium.

"Our highly strategic expansion in east Texas over the last three years has given us a significant head start in establishing a sizable foothold in the region," remarked Mr. Mintak. "The completion of our targeted drilling program resulted in three new wells with samples reporting high-quality brine with lithium concentrations as high as 806 milligrams per litre, and an average of 644 milligrams per litre, along with significant bromine and potash concentrations. The costs associated with the drilling program, in addition to the delivery of the DFS and PFS, accounted for our major expenditures this quarter. As the interest in the Smackover region continues to gain momentum among major global energy players, we are strategically positioned to advance our development, expand our project scope and intensify efforts to explore partnerships that align with our objectives for responsible project advancement and capital efficiency."

"To guide the company through this pivotal phase, Salah Gamoudi has been appointed as the new chief financial officer. Mr. Gamoudi's financial acumen and strategic insight are poised to play a critical role in Standard Lithium's journey toward commercialization and operational excellence. Additionally, the strategic hire of Michael Barman as chief development officer further signifies the company's commitment to growth. Mr. Barman's extensive experience in investment banking and advisory roles, particularly in the energy transition sector, will be crucial as the company is in advanced discussion with multiple parties seeking offtake arrangements on both phase 1A and SWA and working with our advisers to secure project financing. Complementing the expansion of the executive team is the addition of David Park as senior strategic adviser, bringing a wealth of expertise and relationships from a notable career at Koch Industries."

First quarter fiscal 2024 highlights (all amounts are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated):

  • Delivered robust results from the preliminary feasibility study for the SWA project and filed the PFS; the PFS base case yields robust economics of $4.5-billion pretax net present value and internal rate of return of 41 per cent, assuming battery-quality lithium hydroxide monohydrate pricing of $30,000 per tonne over the 20-year operating life; the strong economic results are underpinned by some of the highest reported lithium brine concentrations in North America, including an upper Smackover indicated and middle Smackover inferred resource of 1.4 million tonnes and 400,000 tonnes lithium carbonate equivalent, respectively, at an average lithium concentration of 437 milligrams per litre; the project assumes first production in 2027 with a base-case average annual production of 30,000 tonnes per year of battery-quality LHM; operating costs are expected to average $4,073 per tonne of LHM; the total capital expenditure estimate of $1.3-billion assumes a 20-per-cent contingency;
  • Completed the definitive feasibility study for the company's first commercial lithium extraction plant (phase 1A) at Lanxess South plant; the DFS assumes first production in 2026 of an initial 5,700 tpy of battery-quality lithium carbonate at modest capital requirements of $365-million (assuming 15-per-cent contingency); phase 1A would be the first commercial lithium extraction project in six decades in the United States and effectively double domestic production; the current proven and probable reserves of 208,000 tonnes LCE at an average lithium concentration of 217 milligrams per litre support up to 40 years of operations; the project yields strong economics, including a pretax net present value of $772-million and an internal rate of return of 30 per cent (at an 8-per-cent discount rate, $30,000-per-tonne battery-quality lithium carbonate price and 25-year operating life);
  • David Park appointed as senior strategic adviser; Mr. Park joined the company following his retirement from Koch Industries after 28 years; he is a highly experienced executive with a strong energy and industrial sector background; most recently, Mr. Park served as president of Koch Strategic Platforms, which is the company's largest investor;
  • Advanced and further derisked the South West Arkansas project with a 118-acre land purchase;
  • Cash totalled $37.2-million, and working capital totalled $23.8-million as at Sept. 30, 2023.

Subsequent events to the first quarter ended Sept. 30, 2023:

  • Salah Gamoudi appointed as chief financial officer: Mr. Gamoudi, with his significant experience, including a transformative tenure at SandRidge Energy that notably elevated shareholder value, is positioned to effectively advance the company's financial and investor relations strategy. His Austin, Tex., base offers a geographic advantage, aligning with its expansion in key U.S. energy markets. Kara Norman will assume the role of chief accounting officer, furthering her foundational contributions to Standard Lithium's growth and operational development.
  • Appointed Michael Barman as chief development officer to lead late-stage commercial discussions: Mr. Barman brings extensive commercial experience to the company's leadership team with his nearly 20 years of experience advising senior executives and their boards. Most recently, he served as managing director in investment banking at Stifel Nicolaus Canada Inc. (formerly GMP Securities LP). He is leading late-stage discussions under way with a broad array of industry leaders related to potential project partnerships and offtake arrangements.
  • Filed definitive feasibility study for the company's first commercial lithium project -- phase 1A. Filing of the definitive feasibility study highlights the company's commitment to commercialize direct lithium extraction technology, starting with phase 1A. Standard Lithium's approach of replicating and scaling technology aims to unlock the resource potential of the Smackover formation and address critical mineral needs in the United States sustainably and responsibly.
  • Completed an extensive east Texas expansion drilling program: This program marked a significant capital expense for first quarter and delivered the highest ever reported North American lithium brine value of 806 milligrams per litre, averaging 644 milligrams per litre from the three newly drilled wells and with significant potash and bromine concentrations.
  • Exercised option agreement on South West Arkansas project: The company announced the exercise of its option agreement with Tetra Technologies Inc., securing the brine production rights on approximately 27,000 net acres of brine leases within the SWA project area. The move affirms the company's strategic direction to expand its Smackover footprint and builds on the robust results from the SWA project's recently filed PFS.

Consolidated financial statements

The company's interim financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for the first quarter 2024 ended Sept. 30, 2023, are available on the company's website and under the company's profiles on SEDAR+ and EDGAR.

About Standard Lithium Ltd.

Standard Lithium is a leading near-commercial lithium development company focused on the sustainable development of a portfolio of lithium-brine-bearing properties in the United States. The company prioritizes brine projects characterized by high-grade resources, robust infrastructure, skilled labour and streamlined permitting. The company aims to achieve sustainable, commercial-scale lithium production through the application of a scalable and fully integrated direct lithium extraction and purification process. The company's signature projects, the phase 1A project and the South West Arkansas project, are located on the Smackover formation in southern Arkansas near the Louisiana state line, a region with a long-standing and established brine processing industry. The company has also identified a number of highly prospective lithium brine project areas in the Smackover formation in east Texas and began an extensive brine leasing program in key project areas. In addition, the company has an interest in certain mineral leases located in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino county, California.

Standard Lithium trades on both the TSX Venture Exchange and the NYSE American under the symbol SLI and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol S5L.

Qualified person

Steve Ross, PGeol, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, and vice-president, resource development, for the company, has reviewed and approved the relevant scientific and technical information in this news release.

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