Direct Lithium Extraction pilot

International Battery Metals · USA · Battery-grade chemicals

Battery chemical refinery operated by International Battery Metals in USA. Status: operational.

Direct Lithium Extraction pilot: cathode plant illustration with co-precipitation reactor and rotary kiln; Battery-grade chemicals, status operational, USA Battery-grade chemicals Operational USA
Capacity
0.5 kt/yr
Chemistry
Lithium chloride and carbonate via direct lithium extraction (DLE)
Start year
2024
Hub
Supply Chain

Status

Operational: status carried from the legacy record

Product: Lithium chloride and carbonate via direct lithium extraction (DLE). Capacity: 0.5 kt/yr (Legacy figure; not re-verified).

DLE (Direct Lithium Extraction) technology pilot for US domestic lithium supply; LFP CAM planned downstream; represents emerging non-Chinese LFP supply chain thesis.

Customers and offtakers: TBD.

Plant record

Plant record

Direct Lithium Extraction pilot (International Battery Metals)
CompanyInternational Battery Metals
PlantDirect Lithium Extraction pilot
CountryUSA
Stagechemical
Chemistry or productLithium chloride and carbonate via direct lithium extraction (DLE)
Capacity (kt/yr)0.5
Capacity basisLegacy figure; not re-verified
Statusoperational
Status noteStatus carried from the legacy record; not re-verified; this is a DLE plant, not a CAM plant
Scalepilot
Start year2024
Investment (US$ billion)0.
Customers and offtakersTBD
FeedstockDLE lithium brine
Metal inputsLi
Geopolitical exposureLOW
Record updated2026-10

In context

Where it fits

Listed in Cathode Active Materials. Cathode plants are compared on stage (chemical, precursor or finished CAM), chemistry, capacity and qualified customers; a plant qualified for one chemistry and one cell maker is not interchangeable supply.

Other plants of International Battery Metals and other plants in USA
PlantCountryStatus
North Andover Plasma CAM Line (6K Energy)USAoperational
Battle Creek CAM Plant (BASF TODA America) (BASF)USAoperational
Elyria Battery Materials Plant (BASF)USAoperational
Mountain View LFP/LMFP Line (Mitra Chem)USAoperational
Bessemer City Lithium Hydroxide Plant (Rio Tinto (Arcadium Lithium, formerly Livent))USAoperational
Robstown Lithium Refinery (Tesla)USAramping
Clarksville Cathode Plant (LG Chem)USAunder construction
Thacker Pass (Lithium Americas)USAunder construction
Kings Mountain Lithium (Albemarle)USAannounced
Hell's Kitchen (Controlled Thermal Resources)USAannounced

Sources

Sources and scope

Scope
Direct Lithium Extraction pilot (International Battery Metals)
Sources
ElectronsX cathode dataset; company disclosures and filings
Updated
2026-10