Q1 2026 Standard Lithium Ltd Earnings Call

May 11, 2026

Operator: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by, and welcome to Standard Lithium's Q1 2026 conference call. All lines have been placed on mute to prevent any background noise. After the speaker's remarks, there will be a brief question and answer session. If you would like to ask a question, please press star 1 to raise your hand. To withdraw your question, press star 1 again. It is now my pleasure to turn today's call over to Daniel Rosen, VP of Investor Relations and Strategy for Standard Lithium. Please go ahead.

Operator: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by, and welcome to Standard Lithium's Q1 2026 conference call. All lines have been placed on mute to prevent any background noise. After the speaker's remarks, there will be a brief question and answer session. If you would like to ask a question, please press star one to raise your hand. To withdraw your question, press star one again. It is now my pleasure to turn today's call over to Daniel Rosen, VP of Investor Relations and Strategy for Standard Lithium. Please go ahead.

Speaker #1: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by, and welcome to Standard Lithium's first quarter 2026 conference call. All lines have been placed on mute to prevent any background noise.

Speaker #1: After the speakers' remarks, there will be a brief question-and-answer session. If you would like to ask a question, please press star 1 to raise your hand.

Speaker #1: To withdraw your question, press star 1 again. It is now my pleasure to turn today's call over to Daniel Rosen, VP of Investor Relations and Strategy for Standard Lithium.

Speaker #1: Please go ahead.

Speaker #2: Thank you, and welcome, everyone. I'm joined today by David Park, our CEO and Director; Andy Robinson, President, COO, and Director; Salah Gamoudi, Chief Financial Officer; and Mike Barman, Chief Development Officer.

Daniel Rosen: Thank you and welcome everyone. I'm joined today by David Park, our CEO and Director, Andy Robinson, President, COO, and Director, Salah Gamoudi, Chief Financial Officer, and Mike Barman, Chief Development Officer. Before we begin, I would like to start with a reminder that some of the statements made during our call today, including any related to company performance, expectations, and timing of projects, may constitute forward-looking statements. Please note the cautionary language about forward-looking statements contained in our press release, which also applies to this call. I will now turn the call over to David.

Speaker #2: Before we begin, I would like to start with a reminder that some of the statements made during our call today, including any related to company performance, expectations, and timing of projects, may constitute forward-looking statements.

Speaker #2: Please note the cautionary language about forward-looking statements contained in our press release, which also applies to this call. I will now turn the call over to David.

Speaker #3: Thanks, Dan, and I appreciate everyone joining us today. We've had an active first quarter and year-to-date, as important milestones and deliverables of the company.

David Park: Thanks, Daniel Rosen. I appreciate everyone joining us today. We've had an active Q1 and year to date as we continue to advance the important milestones and deliverables of the company. We achieved major operational milestones at our demonstration plant in Arkansas, including the processing of over 1 million barrels of live Smackover brine going back over the last 6 years. Our large-scale demo plant is the first of its kind and is critical to everything we've been able to accomplish at Standard Lithium. It's provided a robust data set to support the scalability and de-risking of our selected process technology and flow sheet. It has also strengthened our first-mover advantage within the Smackover formation, where we have the only shovel-ready project that's preparing to take a FID, our Southwest Arkansas project.

David Park: Thanks, Dan. I appreciate everyone joining us today. We've had an active Q1 and year-to-date as we continue to advance the important milestones and deliverables of the company. We achieved major operational milestones at our demonstration plant in Arkansas, including the processing of over 1 million bbl of live Smackover brine going back over the last six years. Our large-scale demo plant is the first of its kind and is critical to everything we've been able to accomplish at Standard Lithium. It's provided a robust data set to support the scalability and de-risking of our selected process technology and flow sheet. It has also strengthened our first-mover advantage within the Smackover formation, where we have the only shovel-ready project that's preparing to take a Final Investment Decision, our Southwest Arkansas project.

Speaker #3: We achieved major operational milestones at our demonstration plant in Arkansas including the processing of over $1 million barrels of live smack-over brine going back over the last six years.

Speaker #3: Our large-scale demo plant is the first of its kind and is critical to everything we've been able to accomplish at Standard Lithium. It's provided a robust data set to support the scalability and de-risking of our selected process technology and flow sheet.

Speaker #3: It is also strengthened our first-mover advantage within the smack-over formation where we have the only shovel-ready project that's preparing to take a final investment decision, our Southwest Arkansas project.

Speaker #3: We've also been working diligently to advance the remaining workstreams required prior to a final investment decision, and we've made meaningful progress on all fronts.

David Park: We've also been working diligently to advance the remaining work streams required prior to a final investment decision, and we've made meaningful progress on all fronts. In the first quarter, we announced our first binding commercial offtake agreement with Trafigura, a global commodities leader with an established presence across battery metals, including lithium. Smackover Lithium will supply Trafigura with 8,000 metric tons per year of battery quality lithium carbonate over a 10-year period, beginning at the start of commercial production. We'll address the status of each of the remaining work streams and how it supports our overall plan, which remains to take FID at the Southwest Arkansas project and begin construction in 2026. With that, I'll pass it over to Andy.

Speaker #3: In the first quarter, we announced our first binding commercial offtake agreement with Trafigura. A global commodities leader with an established presence across battery metals, including lithium.

Speaker #3: Smack-over lithium will supply Trafigura with 8,000 metric tons per year of battery-quality lithium carbonate over a 10-year period. Beginning at the start of commercial production.

Speaker #3: We'll address the status of each of the remaining workstreams, and how it supports our overall plan, which remains to take FID at the Southwest Arkansas project and begin construction in 2026.

Speaker #3: And with that, I'll pass it over to Andy.

Speaker #2: Thanks, David. We're pleased to announce the achievement of several meaningful operational milestones at our demo plant in Eldorado, Arkansas, which operates a full brined lithium carbonate flow sheet.

Andy Robinson: Thanks, David. We're pleased to announce the achievement of several meaningful operational milestones at our demo plant in El Dorado, Arkansas, which operates a full brine lithium carbonate flow sheet. We've now processed over 1 million barrels of real brine pumped in real time from the Smackover formation. This was completed over 15,000 direct lithium extraction or DLE cycles and met the fundamental performance targets for the core process technology that's going to be used at the SWA project. This includes 95% plus lithium recovery and 99% plus rejection of key contaminants as consistent with the performance guarantees in place on our licensing agreement with Aquatech. It was done with roughly 340,000 man-hours over 6 years of operating with 0 incidents, underscoring Standard Lithium's strong commitment to operational safety and best practices.

Andy Robinson: Thanks, David. We're pleased to announce the achievement of several meaningful operational milestones at our demo plant in El Dorado, Arkansas, which operates a full brine lithium carbonate flow sheet. We've now processed over 1 million bbl of real brine pumped in real time from the Smackover formation. This was completed over 15,000 direct lithium extraction or DLE cycles and met the fundamental performance targets for the core process technology that's going to be used at the SWA project. This includes 95% plus lithium recovery and 99% plus rejection of key contaminants as consistent with the performance guarantees in place on our licensing agreement with Aquatech. It was done with roughly 340,000 man-hours over 6 years of operating with 0 incidents, underscoring Standard Lithium's strong commitment to operational safety and best practices.

Speaker #2: We've now processed over $1 million barrels of real brine, pumped in real time from the Smackover formation. This was completed over 15,000 direct lithium extraction, or DLE, cycles, and met the fundamental performance targets for the core process technology that's going to be used at the SWA project.

Speaker #2: This includes 95% plus lithium recovery, and 99% plus rejection of key contaminants, as consistent with the performance guarantees in place on our licensing agreement with AquaTech.

Speaker #2: And it was done with roughly 340,000 man-hours over six years of operating with zero incidents, underscoring Standard Lithium's strong commitment to operational safety and best practices.

Speaker #2: The demo plant will continue to serve as a critical platform for process flow sheet optimization, operational data collection, engineering design input, and training of our core team of 38 engineers and operators to prepare them for the commissioning and operation of our first commercial facility of the SWA project.

Andy Robinson: The demo plant will continue to serve as a critical platform for process flow sheet optimization, operational data collection, engineering design input, and training of our core team of 38 engineers and operators to prepare them for the commissioning and operation of our first commercial facility at the SWA project. At the beginning of the year, we laid out the 4 primary deliverables to be completed prior to taking FID, namely contract execution with the key construction vendors, receiving the NEPA approval from federal regulators, finalizing customer offtake agreements, and closing the project financing. For the vendor contracts, we're pursuing an engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning or EPCC model for the downstream portion of the project, which contains the central processing facility and includes the direct lithium extraction and battery quality lithium carbonate conversion process.

Speaker #2: At the beginning of the year, we laid out the four primary deliverables to be completed prior to taking FID, namely contract execution with a key construction vendors, receiving the NEPA approval from federal regulators, finalizing customer offtake agreements, and closing the project financing.

Speaker #2: For the vendor contracts, we're pursuing an engineering procurement, construction, commissioning, or EPCC model for the downstream portion of the project, which contains the central processing facility and includes the direct lithium extraction and battery-quality lithium carbonate conversion process.

Speaker #2: We're pursuing an engineering, procurement, and construction management—or EPCM—model for the upstream, or well field and pipeline, portion of the project. We're currently finalizing agreements with our selected partners in these two key roles and expect for both of these to be completed in the second quarter, as previously indicated.

Andy Robinson: We're pursuing an engineering, procurement, and construction management or EPCM model for the upstream or wellfield and pipeline portion of the project. We're currently finalizing agreements with our selected partners in these two key roles and expect for both of these to be completed in Q2, as previously indicated. Each contract contains a limited notice to proceed provision in order to immediately progress key work items and to optimize the construction schedule prior to taking a final investment decision. A full notice to proceed will immediately follow positive FID. On the regulatory front, the project is required to go through an environmental assessment on the NEPA, triggered by our $225 million grant from the Department of Energy.

Speaker #2: Each contract contains unlimited notice to proceed provision, in order to immediately progress key work items and optimize the construction schedule prior to taking a final investment decision.

Speaker #2: A full notice to proceed will immediately follow positive FID. On the regulatory front, the project has required to go through an environmental assessment on the NEPA triggered by our $225 million grant from the Department of Energy.

Speaker #2: The DOE is leading this process, which is nearing its formal conclusion after more than a year of review and engagement, and we expect it to be completed in the second quarter as per the federal permitting dashboard.

Andy Robinson: The DOE is leading this process, which is nearing its formal conclusion after more than a year of review and engagement. We expect it to be completed in Q2 as per the federal permitting dashboard. We do not expect any further mitigation measures or conditions to be imposed or any additional federal government reviews or approvals to be required in order to take a final investment decision. Overall, we've received strong government support throughout this process for our project, which received a FAST-41 transparency project designation as a priority US critical minerals project. Turning to our dual-track customer offtake and project financing processes, Smackover Lithium, alongside our experienced financial advisors, continues to make excellent progress.

Speaker #2: We do not expect any further mitigation measures or conditions to be imposed or any additional federal government reviews or approvals to be required in order to take a final investment decision.

Speaker #2: Overall, we've received strong government support throughout this process for our project, which received a FAST-41 transparency project designation as a priority U.S. critical mineral project.

Speaker #2: Turning to our dual-track customer offtake and project financing processes, Smackover Lithium, alongside our experienced financial advisors, continues to make excellent progress. With our planned 22,500 tons of annual nameplate lithium carbonate capacity, we're targeting for approximately 80% of that production to be under long-term offtake contracts.

Andy Robinson: With our planned 22,500 tons of annual nameplate lithium carbonate capacity, we're targeting for approximately 80% of that production to be under long-term offtake contracts. Our first offtake agreement with Trafigura for our 8,000 tons represents over 40% of targeted offtake. The partnership expects to reach agreements on all remaining advanced offtake negotiations by Q3. We remain focused on securing the best possible terms under these agreements in order to support our project financing efforts. All material offtake terms must be agreed upon before the final sizing and structure of the project finance package can be determined. The joint venture remains confident in its ability to reach a positive outcome in these customer negotiations, thus allowing for FID to be taken and for construction to begin in 2026.

Speaker #2: Our first offtake agreement with Trafigura for our 8,000 tons represents over 40% of targeted offtake. The partnership expects to reach agreements on all remaining advanced offtake negotiations by the third quarter.

Speaker #2: We remain focused on securing the best possible terms under these agreements, in order to support our project financing efforts. All material offtake terms must be agreed upon before the final sizing and structure of the project finance package can be determined.

Speaker #2: And the joint venture remains confident in its ability to reach a positive outcome in these customer negotiations, thus allowing for FID to be taken and for construction to begin in 2026.

Speaker #2: Assuming we begin construction on this timeline, we expect to achieve first commercial production in 2029. And I just want to round out my remarks by touching on East Texas.

Andy Robinson: Assuming we begin construction on this timeline, we expect to achieve first commercial production in 2029. I just want to round out my remarks by touching on East Texas. We're continuing to improve the definition of our resource position through additional drilling and process test work at the Franklin project and in the region more broadly. We're aiming to release the preliminary economic assessment or PEA for the Franklin project in H2 2026 and plan to follow that with a preliminary feasibility study, PFS, in early 2027. It's important to outline the project economics of that world-class resource in order to gain further recognition for this important and underappreciated part of our asset portfolio. We'll continue to work on made and inferred resource reports for our two other potential projects in the area, all while continuing to expand our leasehold footprint in East Texas.

Speaker #2: We're continuing to improve the definition of our resource position through additional drilling and process test work at the Franklin project, and in the region more broadly.

Speaker #2: We're aiming to release the preliminary economic assessment, or PEA, for the Franklin project in the second half of 2026, and plan to follow that with a preliminary feasibility study, PFS, in early 2027.

Speaker #2: It's important to outline the project economics so that this world-class resource can gain further recognition for this important and underappreciated part of our asset portfolio.

Speaker #2: We'll continue to work on made and inferred resource reports for our two other potential projects in the area, all while continuing to expand our leasehold footprint in East Texas.

Speaker #2: And now I'll turn it over to Salah to discuss our financial results.

Andy Robinson: Now I'll turn it over to Salah to discuss our financial results.

Speaker #3: Thank you, Andy. For the first quarter ended March 31st, 2026, we reported a net loss of $2.7 million as compared to a loss of $1.6 million for the quarter ended March 31st, 2025.

Salah Gamoudi: Thank you, Andy. For Q1 ended 31 March 2026, we reported a net loss of $2.7 million as compared to a loss of $1.6 million for Q1 ended 31 March 2025. In Q1, G&A decreased slightly by $0.1 million, while demonstrate plant costs increased by $0.4 million year-over-year. The slight decrease in G&A demonstrates our continued commitment to cost discipline as despite growth in employee headcount and activity in order to support the development of our portfolio of projects, we have found offsetting cost savings in certain audit, legal, and consulting expenses. The demo plant increase was driven by higher personnel and supply costs associated with R&D activities along with maintenance and site improvement activities.

Speaker #3: In the quarter, G&A decreased slightly by $0.1 million, while demonstrating plant costs increased by $0.4 million year over year. The slight decrease in G&A demonstrates our continued commitment to cost discipline, as despite growth in employee headcount and activity in order to support the development of our portfolio of projects, we have found offsetting cost savings in certain audit, legal, and consulting expenses.

Speaker #3: The demo plant increase was driven by higher personnel and supply costs associated with R&D activities, along with maintenance and site improvement activities. As mentioned by Andy, the work that we do at the demonstration plant is, and will continue to be, critical and a real differentiator for us.

Salah Gamoudi: As mentioned by Andy, the work that we do at the demonstration plant is and will continue to be critical and a real differentiator for us. Additionally, we incurred a non-cash foreign exchange gain of $2.2 million during the quarter. This foreign exchange gain was due to having significantly higher average US dollar cash balances as a result of our $130 million follow-on offering in October of last year, as well as fluctuations in exchange rates between US and Canadian dollars and the resultant non-cash accounting impact on those cash balances held by one of our Canadian dollar functional currency entities. Below operating expenses on the income statement, we recorded a higher investment loss from joint ventures of $1.5 million for the quarter versus $1 million in the prior period.

Speaker #3: Additionally, we incurred a non-cash foreign exchange gain of $2.2 million during the quarter. This foreign exchange gain was due to having significantly higher average U.S. dollar cash balances as a result of our $130 million follow-on offering in October of last year, as well as fluctuations in exchange rates between U.S. and Canadian dollars and the resultant non-cash accounting impact on those cash balances held by one of our Canadian dollar functional currency entities.

Speaker #3: The low operating expenses on the income statement we recorded a higher investment loss from joint ventures of $1.5 million for the quarter versus $1 million in the prior period.

Speaker #3: This increase reflects expanded operational activity at the smack-over lithium partnership level in connection with commercial and financing initiatives, as well as increased corporate and administrative support as project development activities progress.

Salah Gamoudi: This increase reflects expanded operational activity at the Smackover Lithium Partnership level in connection with commercial and financing initiatives, as well as increased corporate and administrative support as project development activities progress. We also recorded a $0.8 million loss on the fair value of our contingent FID payments, which are to be received by Standard Lithium from our partner, Equinor, should we reach a positive FID at our SWA and/or East Texas projects by certain dates. This was primarily related to revisions to assumptions on expected milestone timing rather than a change in the overall probability of achieving FID. We also recognized $1 million in additional interest income year over year, driven by our higher average cash balances. We ended the quarter with strong cash and working capital positions of $141 million and $139.5 million, respectively.

Speaker #3: We also recorded an $0.8 million loss on the fair value of our contingent FID payments, which are to be received by Standard Lithium from our partner Equinor should we reach a positive FID at our SWA and/or East Texas projects by certain dates.

Speaker #3: This was primarily related to revisions to assumptions on expected milestone timing rather than a change in the overall probability of achieving FID. We also recognized $1 million in additional interest income year over year driven by our higher average cash balances.

Speaker #3: We ended the quarter with strong cash and working capital positions of $141 million and $139.5 million, respectively. Standard Lithium made JV capital contributions of $17.9 million during the first quarter, of which $9.6 million and $8.3 million went towards SWA and East Texas, respectively.

Salah Gamoudi: Standard Lithium made JV capital contributions of $17.9 million during Q1, of which $9.6 million and $8.3 million went towards SWA and East Texas, respectively. For Southwest Arkansas, the contributions allow us to continue to advance key project milestones as we approach FID and enable us to continue advancing technical and engineering work streams. For East Texas, the contribution is primarily for advancing our understanding of the resource, continuing to expand our leasehold footprint, and continuing along a path to a preliminary economic assessment with a preliminary feasibility study to follow. Securing an attractive and comprehensive project finance package is a critical part of the final investment decision for SWA.

Speaker #3: For Southwest Arkansas, the contributions allow us to continue to advance key project milestones as we approach FID and enable us to continue advancing technical and engineering workstreams.

Speaker #3: For East Texas, the contribution is primarily for advancing our understanding of the resource, continuing to expand our leasehold footprint, and continuing along a path to a preliminary economic assessment, with a preliminary feasibility study to follow.

Speaker #3: Securing an attractive and comprehensive project finance package is a critical part of the final investment decision for SWA. The approximately $1.5 billion of base project capex per our DFS, in addition to potential cost overrun facilities, reserve accounts, or other incremental capital requirements, are expected to be financed by a combination of senior secured project debt, our $225 million grant from the DOE, as well as respective funding contributions from Standard Lithium and Equinor.

Salah Gamoudi: The approximate $1.5 billion of base project CapEx per our DFS, in addition to potential cost overrun facilities, reserve accounts, or other incremental capital requirements are expected to be financed by a combination of senior secured project debt, our $225 million grant from the DOE, as well as respective funding contributions from Standard Lithium and Equinor. The joint venture is targeting approximately $1.1 billion total in senior secured limited recourse project debt supported by three leading major Export Credit Agencies, including the Export-Import Bank of the United States and Export Finance Norway, along with a strong syndicate of commercial banks. The remaining 55% pro rata equity contribution required by Standard Lithium will be supported by the proceeds from our equity raise last year.

Speaker #3: The joint venture is targeting approximately $1.1 billion total in senior secured limited recourse project debt, supported by three leading major export credit agencies, including the Export-Import Bank of the United States and Export Finance Norway, along with a strong syndicate of commercial banks.

Speaker #3: The remaining 55% pro rata equity contribution required by standard lithium will be supported by the proceeds from our equity raise last year. Any cost overrun facilities contingencies minimum working capital balances or reserve accounts over and above base project capex requirements remain subject to negotiation with the lenders with quantums to be determined.

Salah Gamoudi: Any cost overrun facilities, contingencies, minimum working capital balances, or reserve accounts over and above base project CapEx requirements remain subject to negotiation with the lenders with quantums to be determined. We have already received expressions of interest from the ECAs and commercial banks exceeding our total targeted project debt. Additionally, initial responses included indicative terms that were consistent with our expectations and validated certain assumptions regarding the cost, term, structure, and conditions that are customary for project debt facilities of this nature. While we await finalization of our remaining commercial off-take agreements, which will ultimately finalize the size and structure of the SWA project debt. We continue to progress important project financing work in the interim around due diligence, structuring, and documentation credit and other approvals, such that we are in a position to reach financial close and draw down shortly thereafter.

Speaker #3: We have already received expressions of interest from the ECAs and commercial banks exceeding our total targeted project debt. Additionally, initial responses included indicative terms that were consistent with our expectations and validated certain assumptions regarding the cost, term structure, and conditions that are customary for project debt facilities of this nature.

Speaker #3: While we await finalization of our remaining commercial offtake agreements, which will ultimately finalize the size and structure of the SWA project debt, we continue to progress important project financing work in the interim around due diligence, structuring, and documentation credit and other approvals, such that we are in a position to reach financial close and draw down shortly thereafter.

Speaker #3: In other words, the offtake process has not holding up advancement of the project financing workstreams as we remain on our targeted timelines. I will now turn it back over to David for closing remarks.

Salah Gamoudi: In other words, the off-take process is not holding up advancement of the project financing work streams as we remain on our targeted timelines. I will now turn it back over to David for closing remarks.

Speaker #4: Thanks, Salah. We understand how important 2026 is for Standard Lithium as we approach a final investment decision for the initial phase of our Southwest Arkansas project.

David Park: Thanks, Salah. We understand how important 2026 is for Standard Lithium as we approach a final investment decision for the initial phase of our Southwest Arkansas project. We'll provide timely updates as we conclude all remaining work in the coming months and progress against our plan, which remains to approve FID and begin construction in 2026. Standard Lithium continues to be extremely well-positioned, poised for growth with a portfolio of high quality and scalable assets, including in East Texas, and to be a leading domestic critical minerals producer in the United States. Thanks again for joining us today. Operator, I'll turn it back to you.

Speaker #4: We'll provide timely updates as we conclude all remaining work in the coming months and progress against our plan, which remains to approve FID and begin construction in 2026.

Speaker #4: Standard Lithium continues to be extremely well positioned, poised for growth with a portfolio of high-quality and scalable assets, including in East Texas, and to be a leading domestic critical minerals producer in the United States.

Speaker #4: Thanks again for joining us today. Operator, I'll turn it back to you.

Speaker #1: We will now begin the question and answer session. If you would like to ask a question, please press star and the number one to raise your hand.

Operator: We will now begin the question-and-answer session. If you would like to ask a question, please press star and one to raise your hand. To withdraw your question, press star one again. We ask that you pick up your handset when asking a question to allow for optimum sound quality. If you're muted locally, please remember to unmute your device. Please stand by now while we compile the Q&A roster. Your first question comes from the line of Max Yarrell with BMO Capital Markets. Your line is open. Please go ahead.

Operator: We will now begin the question-and-answer session. If you would like to ask a question, please press star and one to raise your hand. To withdraw your question, press star one again. We ask that you pick up your handset when asking a question to allow for optimum sound quality. If you're muted locally, please remember to unmute your device. Please stand by now while we compile the Q&A roster. Your first question comes from the line of Max Yerrill with BMO Capital Markets. Your line is open. Please go ahead.

Speaker #1: To withdraw your question, press star one again. We ask that you pick up your handset when asking a question to allow for optimum sound quality.

Speaker #1: If you're muted locally, please remember to unmute your device. Please stand by now while we compile the Q&A roster. Your first question comes from the line of Max Yarrow with BMO Capital Markets.

Speaker #1: Your line is open. Please go ahead.

Max Yarrell: Hey, guys. Thanks for taking my question. As you worked through the vendor contracting process, I was just wondering how the cost of these are tracking towards maybe what you expected from the get-go. Thanks.

Max Yerrill: Hey, guys. Thanks for taking my question. As you worked through the vendor contracting process, I was just wondering how the cost of these are tracking towards maybe what you expected from the get-go. Thanks.

Speaker #5: Hey, guys. Thanks for taking my question. As you worked as a vendor contracting process, I was just wondering how the costs of these are tracking towards maybe what you expected from the get-go.

Speaker #5: Thanks.

Speaker #4: Thanks a lot, Max. Andy, why don't I turn that one to you? You're closer.

David Park: Thanks a lot, Max. Andy, why don't I turn that one to you if you're closer?

Speaker #6: Yeah, sure. Sounds good. Thanks, Max. Yeah, I mean, obviously, the DFS is still pretty current, and the feed study that underpinned that DFS—so a lot of the original vendor build-up that went into that—is still pretty fresh.

Andy Robinson: Sure. Sounds good. Thanks, Max. I mean, obviously the DFS is still pretty current on the FEED study that underpins that DFS. A lot of the original vendor build-up that went into that is still pretty fresh. Obviously we are gonna be releasing the two principal contracting entities on a limited notice to proceed in the very near future. At that point, they're gonna be refreshing through vendor outreach some of the expected costs. We have not seen pricing change significantly where we've been tracking pricing to date. In the contracting vendor engagement process, we have made allowances for escalation and tariffs to be there in our pricing model right now.

Speaker #6: Obviously, we are going to be releasing the two principal contracting entities on a limited notice to proceed in the very near future. And at that point, they're going to be refreshing, through vendor outreach, some of the expected costs.

Speaker #6: We have not seen pricing change significantly where we've been tracking pricing to date. But in the contracting vendor engagement process, we have made allowances for escalation and tariffs to be there in our pricing model right now.

Speaker #6: So we've been keeping an eye on it. And that'll get formalized as we go through that LNTP process prior to taking the final investment decision.

Andy Robinson: We've been keeping an eye on it, and that'll get formalized as we go through that LNTP process prior to taking the final investment decision. Hopefully that answers your question, Max.

Speaker #6: Hopefully, that answers your question, Max.

Max Yarrell: No, that's good. Thank you. Maybe one more. From where we were when you guys set off on the off-take pricing on, in the off-take discussions, we've seen a huge rally in the lithium prices. Are there any goalposts changing on potential floors or ceilings from when you started the off-take discussions? Any color you can share there would be very helpful.

Max Yerrill: No, that's good. Thank you. Maybe one more. From where we were when you guys set off on the off-take pricing on, in the off-take discussions, we've seen a huge rally in the lithium prices. Are there any goalposts changing on potential floors or ceilings from when you started the off-take discussions? Any color you can share there would be very helpful.

Speaker #5: All right. Good. Thank you. And then maybe one more. From where we were when you guys set off on the offtake pricing in the offtake discussions, we've seen a huge rally in lithium prices.

Speaker #5: I think Gold Post changing on potential lowers or ceilings from when you started the offtake discussions. Any color you can share there would be very helpful.

Speaker #4: Yeah. Thanks a lot, Max. Good question. Lithium carbonate pricing has improved materially over the last year. You're well aware of that. As a result of that, starting in about the fourth quarter and then the first quarter of this year, we had more counterparties come back to the table that were able to present us with pricing mechanisms that worked for us and supported our financing than we had last year.

David Park: Yeah. Thanks a lot, Max. Good question. Lithium carbonate pricing has improved materially over the last year. You're well aware of that. As a result of that, starting in about Q4 and then Q1 of this year, we had more counterparties come back to the table that were able to present us with pricing mechanisms that worked for us and supported our financing than we had last year. I would say probably the best way of thinking of it is there is more depth to our discussions, and we are running a competitive process to finalize our off-take agreements. We have our first agreement in place with Trafigura, as you're well aware, for 8,000 tons. Now we are working with multiple counterparties to finalize agreements.

Speaker #4: So I would say probably the best way of thinking of it is, there is more depth to our discussions, and we are running a competitive process to finalize our offtake agreements.

Speaker #4: We have our first agreement in place with Trafigura as you're well aware for 8,000 tons. And now we are working with multiple counterparties to finalize agreements.

David Park: We think we know who those counterparties are going to be. We have a good feel for the volumes, the duration, and the pricing mechanisms, and feel much better about it than I would have last fall.

Speaker #4: We think we know who those counterparties are going to be. We have a good feel for the volumes, the duration, and the pricing mechanisms.

Speaker #4: And feel much better about it than I would have last fall.

Max Yarrell: That's great. Thank you, guys. I'll turn it back to the queue.

Max Yerrill: That's great. Thank you, guys. I'll turn it back to the queue.

Speaker #5: That's great. Thank you, guys. I'll turn it back to the queue.

Speaker #1: Your next question comes from the line of Anthony Taglieri with Canaccord Genuity. Your line is open. Please go ahead.

Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Anthony Taglieri with Canaccord Genuity. Your line is open. Please go ahead.

Speaker #7: Good afternoon, guys. Thanks for taking my questions. Maybe just on CapEx at the project level for this year, what would be sort of a reasonable expectation for spend there?

Anthony Taglieri: Good afternoon, guys. Thanks for taking my questions. Maybe just on CapEx at the project level for this year. What would be sort of a reasonable expectation for spend there, just given that, you know, construction is probably gonna be starting towards the end of the year? You know, some thoughts there would be helpful. Thanks.

Speaker #7: Just given that construction is probably going to be starting towards the end of the year. Some thoughts there would be helpful. Thanks.

Speaker #4: Andy, do you want to take that one, or should we turn that to Salah?

David Park: Andy, do you wanna take that one or should we turn that to Salah?

Andy Robinson: Why don't let Salah handle that one? That'd be useful. Yeah.

Speaker #6: Why don't we let Salah? Salah handle that one. That'll be useful. Yeah.

Andy Robinson: Why don't let Salah handle that one? That'd be useful. Yeah.

Speaker #8: Sure, happy to. So, what I would say is that from a go-forward perspective, as Andy mentioned, we'll be releasing the EPC contractors on a limited notice to proceed basis.

Salah Gamoudi: Sure. Happy to. You know, what I would say is that, you know, from a go-forward perspective, as Andy mentioned, we'll be releasing the EPC contractors on a limited notice to proceed basis. That's where you're going to eventually find whatever the final CapEx print is. You know, once those procurement activities have been kicked off. You've gotten sort of live real vendor quote sets, and we'll be able to define a specific number. What I would say is in general, we don't expect there to be a huge variation, as Andy mentioned, because our FEED study that the DFS was based on, was done fairly recently. It involved a lot of direct contact with vendors and quotes collected and things like that.

Speaker #8: And that's where you're going to eventually find whatever the final CapEx print is. Once those procurement activities have been kicked off, you've gotten sort of live, real vendor quotes, then someone will be able to define a specific number.

Speaker #8: But what I would say is, in general, we don't expect there to be a huge variation, as Andy mentioned, because our feed study that the DFS was based on was done fairly recently.

Speaker #8: It involved a lot of direct contact with vendors, and quotes collected, and things like that. So, as we're moving forward, however, we do have to account for other things that can come up in regards to capital requirements.

Salah Gamoudi: As we're moving forward, however, we do have to account for other things that can come up in regards to capital requirements. There are contingencies that may be required as part of our debt financing process. As Max mentioned earlier on the call, cost overrun facilities, debt service reserve accounts, minimum working capital balances, and things like that, can increase your capital requirements above and beyond the base CapEx to actually build the facility. We'll be working to define that as we go forward on both the EPC contracting side, but also on the side of our negotiations and discussions with the project lenders.

Speaker #8: And so there are contingencies that may be required as part of our debt financing process as Max mentioned earlier on the call, cost overrun facilities, debt service reserve accounts, minimum working capital balances, and things like that.

Speaker #8: Can increase your capital requirements above and beyond the base CapEx. To actually build the facility. And so we'll be working to define that as we go forward on both the EPC contracting side but also on the side of our negotiations and discussions with the project

Speaker #7: Okay. Great. Thank you. Maybe just on East Texas. Any early views or high-level framing you guys could give us just relative to SWA in terms of economics?

Anthony Taglieri: Okay. Great. Thank you. Maybe just on East Texas, you know, any early views or high level framing you guys could give us just relative to SWA in terms of economics? Like, how should we be thinking about, you know, modeling this project moving forward, I guess pre-PEA, obviously?

Speaker #7: How should we be thinking about modeling this project moving forward? I guess pre-PEA, obviously.

Speaker #4: Andy, why don't you start with that one?

Andy Robinson: Andy, why don't you start with that one?

Speaker #6: Yeah, for sure. I mean, Anthony, it's obvious we have not released any economics assessment of the Franklin project, or any of our land holdings in East Texas to date.

Andy Robinson: Yeah, for sure. I mean, Anthony, it's, obviously we have not released any economics assessment of the Franklin project or any of our land holdings in East Texas to date. I think, one of the things that I would say is that, in our experience over the last many years, the grade of lithium is extremely important in the economics of DLE based projects. As we move from Southwest Arkansas project where, you know, kind of our average grade is in the 400s to 500s, milligrams per liter lithium, and we go into East Texas, where we're typically seeing 500+, you know, into the 6s and 7s and even into the 8s in East Texas. We expect that to be working very much in our favor.

Speaker #6: I think one of the things that I would say is that in our experience over the last many years, the grade of lithium is extremely important.

Speaker #6: In the economics of DLE-based projects and so as we move from Southwest Arkansas project where kind of our average grade is in the 400s to 500s milligrams per liter lithium and we go into East Texas, where we're typically seeing 500-plus into the 600s and 700s and even into the 800s, in East Texas, we expect that to be working very much in our favor.

Andy Robinson: I think that's gonna be, you know, interesting and positive in the future. As I said, you know, we're gonna be working, we're just selecting a vendor to complete the PEA right now. We expect to get it out as, you know, as soon as we can. It's gonna be in H2 of this calendar year. You know, we expect the economics to look favorable, frankly. These are world-class resources. The assets are, you know, quite incredible in terms of just the size and quality of the assets. These are very high quality assets that are highly amenable to DLE processes, and extensions of, you know, the flow sheet that we're gonna be building at SWA phase one.

Speaker #6: And so I think that's going to be interesting and positive. In the future, as I said, we're going to be working— we're just selecting a vendor to complete the PEA right now.

Speaker #6: We expect to get it out as soon as we can. It's going to be in the second half of this calendar year. We expect the economics to look favorable, frankly.

Speaker #6: These are world-class resources. The assets are quite incredible in terms of just the size and quality of the assets. So these are very, very high-quality assets that are highly amenable to DLE processes.

Speaker #6: And the extensions of the flow sheet that we're going to be building at SWA phase one so we're looking to carry across all of that huge amount of learning from the demo plan, from the engineering and feed studies for SWA phase one, translating that into higher-grade assets in East Texas we think that's going to be a good story.

Andy Robinson: We're looking to carry across all that huge amount of learning from the demo plant, from the engineering and feed studies for SWA phase I, translating that into higher grade assets in East Texas. We think that's gonna be a good story.

Speaker #7: That's great, thank you. And then maybe just one more, if I might. Have offtakers started asking you questions about East Texas? Maybe when you might think that project could be in production?

Anthony Taglieri: That's great. Thank you. Maybe just one more, if I might. Have off-takers started asking you questions about East Texas, like maybe when you might think, you know, that project could be in production? Like how does that start factoring into these discussions? Like I imagine obviously the focus is SWA right now, but, you know, I imagine as an off-taker they'd be looking at, you know, longer dated production timelines and where you might get to eventually.

Speaker #7: How does that start factoring into these discussions? I imagine, obviously, the focus is SWA right now, but I imagine as an offtaker they'd be looking at longer-dated production timelines, and where you might get to eventually.

Speaker #6: Yeah, I'll take that. I would just say the offtakers we're talking to are people that want to be partners with us for a long time.

Salah Gamoudi: Yeah, I'll take that. I would just say the off-takers we're talking to are people that wanna be partners for us, with us for a long time. The specific negotiations are very Southwest Arkansas focused, but their interest in entering into long-term partnership with Standard Lithium is driven beyond Southwest Arkansas. It's they're very attracted by the potential we have in East Texas, so we can continue to grow together.

David Park: Yeah, I'll take that. I would just say the off-takers we're talking to are people that wanna be partners for us, with us for a long time. The specific negotiations are very Southwest Arkansas focused, but their interest in entering into long-term partnership with Standard Lithium is driven beyond Southwest Arkansas. It's they're very attracted by the potential we have in East Texas, so we can continue to grow together.

Speaker #6: So the specific negotiations are very Southwest Arkansas-focused. But their interest in entering into long-term partnership with Standard Lithium is driven beyond Southwest Arkansas in its they're very attracted by the potential we have in East Texas.

Speaker #6: So we can continue to grow together.

Speaker #7: Thanks very much. I will pass it on.

Anthony Taglieri: Thanks very much. I will pass it on.

Speaker #1: Your next question comes from the line of Eric Boyce with Evercore ISI. Your line is open. Please go ahead.

Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Eric Boyce with Evercore ISI. Your line is open. Please go ahead.

Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Eric Boyes with Evercore ISI. Your line is open. Please go ahead.

Speaker #9: Thanks for taking my question. For the first, we spend a lot of time talking about sensitivity to lithium price and CapEx, but can you maybe talk to the production volume variability of DLE, if any, in Southwest Arkansas?

Eric Boyce: Thanks for taking my question. For the first, we spend a lot of time talking about sensitivity to lithium price and CapEx, but can you maybe talk to the production volume variability of DLE, if any, in Southwest Arkansas?

Eric Boyes: Thanks for taking my question. For the first, we spend a lot of time talking about sensitivity to lithium price and CapEx, but can you maybe talk to the production volume variability of DLE, if any, in Southwest Arkansas?

Speaker #4: Andy, do you want to hit that?

Andy Robinson: Andy, do you wanna hit that?

Speaker #6: Sure thing. Yeah. I mean, Eric, we've designed the facility at Southwest Arkansas phase one to be effectively constrained, if you like, by the production of lithium carbonate.

Andy Robinson: Sure thing. I mean, Eric, we've designed the facility at Southwest Arkansas, phase one, to be effectively constrained, if you like, by the production of lithium carbonate. We design for how much lithium carbonate we want to produce on an annual basis, then we design everything else around that in terms of the brine supply. We have, because of the quality of the resource at Southwest Arkansas, we have, you know, in very simple terms, more brine than we need to support the operation of that facility. What that means is, you know, we expect to be able to run the facility at nameplate for, you know, very long periods of time, you know, multi-decades of operation because of the relative size of the resource that we have. Relative to the production facilities.

Speaker #6: So we designed for how much lithium carbonate we want to produce on an annual basis, and then we design everything else around that in terms of the brine supply.

Speaker #6: We have because of the quality of the resource, at Southwest Arkansas, we have in very simple terms, more brine than we need to support the operation of that facility.

Speaker #6: So what that means is we expect to be able to run the facility at nameplate for a very long period of time—multi-decades of operation—because of the relative size of the resource that we have, relative to the production facilities.

Andy Robinson: You know, we will see some natural small scale fluctuations in annual capacity, but in simple terms, you know, we have a plant that we can more than supply with resource to main good even production capacity at the facility. That's sort of the general philosophy. We would not expect to see large scale fluctuations of the plant on an annual basis. Obviously that's the basis for, you know, the long term offtake contracts that we're also in the process of finalizing and signing.

Speaker #6: We will see some natural small-scale fluctuations in annual capacity, but in simple terms, we have a plant that we can more than supply with resource to main good even production capacity at the facility.

Speaker #6: So that's sort of the general philosophy. So we would not expect to see large-scale fluctuations of the plant on an annual basis. And obviously, that's the basis for the long-term offtake contracts that we're also in the process of finalizing and signing.

Speaker #7: Okay, cool. Appreciate that. And then my second is another one on East Texas. How much of the Southwest Arkansas engineering package can you realistically kind of replicate down there?

Eric Boyce: Okay, cool. Appreciate that. Then, my second is another on East Texas. How much of the Southwest Arkansas engineering package can you realistically kind of replicate down there? Maybe what parts of the design are likely or would need to change? Thanks.

Eric Boyes: Okay, cool. Appreciate that. Then, my second is another on East Texas. How much of the Southwest Arkansas engineering package can you realistically kind of replicate down there? Maybe what parts of the design are likely or would need to change? Thanks.

Speaker #7: Maybe what parts of the design are likely, or would need to change? Thanks.

Speaker #4: Andy, that one?

David Park: Andy.

Speaker #6: Yeah. No, I'll take that one, I guess. We're extremely fortunate one of the reasons why we're in the SMAC over Eric is that the geochemistry of the brines is really from an engineering and flow sheet design point of view.

Andy Robinson: Yeah. Yeah, no, I'll take that one, I guess. We're, you know, we're extremely fortunate and, you know, one of the reasons why we're in the Smackover, Eric, is that the geochemistry of the brines is really from an engineering and flow sheet design point of view, really very similar from one region that we're operating into the next. In simple terms, we're able to translate directly large parts of either both the demo plant, the Southwest Arkansas flow sheets into East Texas. It is actually a little simpler in East Texas. We don't have any sour gas for the most part to deal with in our project areas.

Speaker #6: Really, very similar from one region that we're operating in to the next. And so, in simple terms, we're able to translate directly large parts of either or both the demo plant and the Southwest Arkansas flow sheets into East Texas.

Speaker #6: There are some it's actually a little simpler in East Texas. We don't have any sour gas. For the most part, to deal with in our project area.

Speaker #6: So there are certain parts of the flow sheet that can be minimized or removed when we translate from Southwest Arkansas to East Texas. So that's going to be helpful.

Andy Robinson: There are certain parts of the flow sheet that can be minimized or removed when we translate from Southwest Arkansas to East Texas. That's gonna be helpful. But for the most part, you know, we're moving with similar flow sheet. We definitely hope to be able to translate established vendors from Southwest Arkansas, obviously established contracting partners from Southwest Arkansas into East Texas. The, you know, the general very much the philosophy of why we're in the Smackover is that we can, to a large extent, replicate our flow sheet, introduce simplicity, introduce efficiencies, maintain key vendor, supplier, and contractor relationships so that we can, you know, minimize redesign cycles, minimize shortened timelines, increase efficiencies, optimize where it makes sense, et cetera.

Speaker #6: But for the most part, we're moving with a similar flow sheet. And so we definitely hope to be able to translate established vendors from Southwest Arkansas.

Speaker #6: Obviously, established contracting partners from Southwest Arkansas into East Texas. So the general—very much the philosophy of why we're in the SMAC over—is that we can, to a large extent, replicate our flow sheet, introduce simplicity, introduce efficiencies, maintain key vendor, supplier, and contractor relationships so that we can minimize redesign cycles, minimize and shorten timelines, increase efficiencies, optimize where it makes sense, etc.

Speaker #6: So it really is a intending to modularize as much as we can and kind of copy-paste as much as is reasonable from one project to the next to kind of get those production efficiencies both on construction and then on operation.

Andy Robinson: It really is intending to modularize as much as we can, and kind of copy paste, as much as is reasonable from one project to the next to kind of get those production efficiencies both on construction and then on operation.

Speaker #7: Thank you very much. I'll turn it back over.

Eric Boyce: Thank you very much. I'll turn it back over.

Eric Boyes: Thank you very much. I'll turn it back over.

Speaker #1: Your next question comes from the line of Joseph Rager with Roth Capital Partners. Your line is open. Please go ahead.

Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Joseph Reagor with Roth Capital Partners. Your line is open. Please go ahead.

Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Joseph Reagor with ROTH Capital Partners. Your line is open. Please go ahead.

Speaker #8: Hey, guys. Thanks for taking the questions. Most of the things I want to touch on were already asked, but just one kind of bigger picture question.

Joseph Reagor: Hey, guys. Thanks for taking the questions. Most of the things I wanna touch on are, were already asked, but just one kind of bigger picture question. I've been seeing a lot more talk of across multiple oil field locations, the potential to recover other minerals, not just lithium, but from the brines and from the wastewater, also some government support for this, you know, things that are on the critical minerals list or rarer. Any opportunity there for you guys, I guess probably too late with Southwest Arkansas, but maybe with East Texas to add other potential minerals to your revenue profile?

Speaker #8: I've been seeing a lot more talk of across multiple oilfield locations, the potential to recover other minerals, not just lithium. But from the brines and from the wastewater and also some government support for this.

Speaker #8: Things that are on the critical minerals list are rares. Any opportunity there for you guys? I guess strike you late with Southwest Arkansas, but maybe with East Texas to add other potential minerals to your revenue profile?

Speaker #6: Sure. I'll start with this and then turn it to Andy as well. First, you are correct. Southwest Arkansas is we're solely focused on lithium for the Southwest Arkansas project.

David Park: Sure. I'll start with this and then turn it to Andy as well. First, you are correct. Southwest Arkansas. We're solely focused on lithium for the Southwest Arkansas project. I think you should not include that in any expectation of any revenue stream. With East Texas, we do have the opportunity to pursue other minerals, and with that, I'll turn it to Andy to flesh that one out.

Speaker #6: So I think you should not include that in any expectation of any revenue stream. With East Texas, we do have the opportunity to pursue other minerals and with that, I'll turn it to Andy to flesh that one out.

Speaker #5: Yeah. Hey, Joe. Yeah. I mean, we identified in the maiden inferred resource assessment we kind of we spoke to the potential bromine and potash resource, which is there as well.

Andy Robinson: Yeah. Hey, Joe. Yeah, I mean, we identified in the maiden inferred resource assessment, you know, we spoke to the potential bromine and potash resource, which is there as well, both of which are high quality and very sizable. You know, as we move forward through the, through the PEA, I think we haven't made a decision as yet whether to include potential economics of those other resources in the PEA. Certainly we very much understand that there are some very high quality resources there. Those are the ones that we've identified so far, so bromine and potash.

Speaker #5: Both of which are high-quality and very sizable. So as we move forward through the PEA I think we haven't made a decision as yet whether to include potential economics of those other resources.

Speaker #5: In the PEA, but certainly we very much understand that there are some very high-quality resources there. Those are the ones that we've identified so far.

Speaker #5: So bromine, and potash. There may well be other potential within the SMAC over brines in East Texas, but I think from a simple grade and magnitude point of view, those are probably the ones that we're going to advance and figure out a little bit more in the future.

Andy Robinson: There may well be other potential within the Smackover brines in East Texas. I think, you know, from a simple grade and magnitude point of view, those are probably the ones that we're going to advance and figure out a little bit more in the future.

Speaker #8: Okay. Yeah. Thanks for the color there. That's all I had.

Joseph Reagor: Okay. Yeah, thanks for the color there. That's all I had.

Speaker #1: Your next question comes from the line of Theo Genzabou with Raymond James. Your line is open. Please go ahead.

Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Theo Gendebu with Raymond James. Your line is open. Please go ahead.

Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Theo Genzebu with Raymond James. Your line is open. Please go ahead.

Speaker #7: Yeah, great. Thanks, guys. Just one for me, I guess, left over. Just on the NEPA—I believe it was mentioned in the past that there was a public commentary period.

Theo Gendebu: Yeah, great. Thanks, guys. Just one for me, I guess, left over. Just on the NEPA, I believe it was mentioned in the past that there was like a public comment, commentary period. Can you just update us on that, or like progression there? I know you're expecting the process to be completed by end of Q2. Any extra light you can shed there would be great.

Theo Genzebu: Yeah, great. Thanks, guys. Just one for me, I guess, left over. Just on the NEPA, I believe it was mentioned in the past that there was like a public comment, commentary period. Can you just update us on that, or like progression there? I know you're expecting the process to be completed by end of Q2. Any extra light you can shed there would be great.

Speaker #7: Can you just update us on that or progression there? I know you're expecting the process to be completed by the end of the second quarter.

Speaker #7: So any extra light you can shed there would be great.

Speaker #4: Yeah. Great question. We feel very confident where we sit with respect to the NEPA process. The public comment period is closed. The we believe the report is finalized or near finalized.

David Park: Yeah, great question. We feel very confident where we sit with respect to the NEPA process. The public comment period is closed. We believe the report is finalized or near finalized, and we hope to have some good news here this quarter on that respect. It has gone, the process has moved forward, and we have not encountered any negative surprises along the way.

Speaker #4: And we hope to have some good news here this quarter on that respect. So it has gone the process has moved forward and we have not encountered any negative surprises along the way.

Speaker #7: Okay. Great. Sounds constructive. First, my questions were answered. So appreciate you guys' time today. Thanks.

Theo Gendebu: Okay, great. Sounds constructive. Those are my questions were answered. Appreciate you guys' time today. Thanks.

Theo Genzebu: Okay, great. Sounds constructive. Those are my questions were answered. Appreciate you guys' time today. Thanks.

Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Noel Parks with Tuohy Brothers Investment Research. Your line is open. Please go ahead.

Speaker #1: Your next question comes from the line of Noel Parks with TUI Brothers Investment Research. Your line is open. Please go ahead.

Speaker #9: Hi. Good afternoon. It was interesting just to hear about the discussion so far about brine characteristics and brine content. Also, across the different your different target regions.

Noel Parks: Hi. Good afternoon. You know, it was interesting just to hear about the discussion so far about brine characteristics and, you know, brine content also, across your different target regions. I just wondered from the original sort of South Arkansas, demo to Southwest and then to East Texas now, I'm just curious about the sort of the reservoir characteristics and whether they are actually also fairly uniform across these different Smackover regions. You know, just things about, you know, pressure, how they behave under sort of a depletion replenishment cycle. Just wondering if there's any variation on that.

Speaker #9: And I just wondered from the original sort of South Arkansas demo to Southwest and then to East Texas now, I'm just curious about the sort of the reservoir characteristics and whether they're actually also fairly uniform across these different SMAC over regions.

Speaker #9: Just things about pressure, how they behave under sort of a depletion replenishment cycle, just wondering if there's any variation on that.

David Park: Andy, that one's for you.

Speaker #4: Andy, that was for you.

Speaker #6: Yeah. No worries. Hey, Noel. Yeah. Look, obviously, the package that the bromine facilities in Southern Arkansas, there's been operating for six decades now. So huge amount of information there on how the SMAC over reservoir produces and also can be re-injected we've been able to lean on.

Andy Robinson: No worries. Hey, Noel. Look, the obviously the package that the bromine facilities in Southern Arkansas, you know, that's been operating for 6 decades now. Huge amount of information there on how the Smackover reservoir produces and also can be reinjected. We've been able to lean on, you know, just an absolutely gigantic amount of data, know as to how the formation behaves. When, you know, as we have moved through, obviously we're working with a package of leases in Lafayette and Columbia counties for the Southwest Arkansas project. We've been, I think over the years, incredibly pleasantly surprised by the producibility of that of that project area.

Speaker #6: Just an absolutely gigantic amount of data and knowledge to how the formation behaves. When, as we have moved through, obviously, we're working with a package of leases in Lafayette and Columbia counties for the Southwest Arkansas project.

Speaker #6: We've been I think over the years incredibly pleasantly surprised by the producibility of that project area. And so we've got some great quality rock and very comfortable with its ability to both produce brine and then to re-inject the tail brine and the waste brine, the spent brine.

Andy Robinson: We've got some great quality rock, and very, very comfortable with its ability to both produce brine and then to reinject the, you know, the tail brine, the waste brine, and spent brine back into the formation to maintain pressures for multi-decadal production. As we moved into East Texas, you know, it's fair to say based on what we've learned in the region working with Lanxess over there, very large footprint, you know, they've got 150,000 plus acres of leases in Union County in Arkansas. All of the work that we've done in and around Southwest Arkansas, we were highly deliberate when we started the work in East Texas 5 years ago.

Speaker #6: Back into the formation to maintain pressures for multi-decadal production. As we moved into East Texas, it's fair to say based on what we've learned in the region working with Lanxess over there, very large footprint.

Speaker #6: They've got 150,000-plus acres of leases in Union County in Arkansas. All of the work that we've done in and around Southwest Arkansas, we were highly deliberate when we started the work in East Texas five years ago.

Andy Robinson: We understand how to look for the best areas of porosity and permeability in the formation, whereabouts in the formation those are found, how to position projects, et cetera. Because we sort of had that huge first mover advantage in the Smackover, as we've expanded our footprint, I think we've been very deliberate and coherent in terms of building out lease packages and project positions to absolutely take advantage of the areas of the Smackover, which we know, you know, sort of in simple terms work best. Because I think your point is a good one, is that the Smackover from a reservoir point of view is quite variable. There are areas with lower porosity and therefore lower permeability.

Speaker #6: We understand how to look for the best areas of porosity and permeability in the formation. Whereabouts in the formation, those are found. How to position projects, etc.

Speaker #6: And so because we sort of had that huge first mover advantage in the SMAC over, as we've expanded our footprint, I think we've been very deliberate and coherent in terms of building out lease packages and project positions.

Speaker #6: To absolutely take advantage of the areas of the SMAC over which we know, sort of in simple terms, work best. Because I think your point is a good one, is that the SMAC over, from a reservoir point of view, is quite variable.

Speaker #6: There are areas with lower porosity and therefore lower permeability. There are areas with more complex geological structures where there's a lot of faulting and discontinuity of flows.

Andy Robinson: There are areas with more complex geological structures where there's, you know, a lot of faulting and discontinuity of flows. Those are areas that we've specifically avoided, when we started five years ago in East Texas. I think we've been very deliberate in terms of where we've positioned our projects in the Smackover to take advantage of the same reservoir characteristics that we've come to know, working on the Lanxess projects in Southwest Arkansas. Hopefully that answers your question, Noel.

Speaker #6: And so those are areas that we've specifically avoided when we started five years ago in East Texas. So I think we've been very deliberate in terms of where we've positioned our projects in the SMAC over, take advantage of the same reservoir characteristics that we've come to know working on the Lanxess projects and in Southwest Arkansas.

Speaker #6: So hopefully, that answered your question, Noel.

Speaker #7: It certainly does. And I think from that, it's fair to say that as far as sort of the competitive lead you would have against other entrants or other players, it maybe aren't so active right now.

Noel Parks: It certainly does. I think it's, from that it's fair to say that, as far as sort of the competitive lead you would have against other entrants or other players that maybe aren't so active right now, it would seem to reinforce that even more. In other words, you can't just jump in and lease what's unleased and expect great results everywhere.

Speaker #7: It would seem to reinforce that even more in the you can't just jump in and lease what's unleased and expect great results everywhere.

Speaker #4: Yeah. I won't speak to I won't speak to other people's projects, but the quality of the reservoir definitely varies spatially both east, west, and north, south across and along the formation.

Andy Robinson: I won't speak to other people's projects, but you know, the quality of the reservoir definitely varies spatially, both east-west and north-south, you know, across and along the formation. I think as a project developer, you know, one needs to be very deliberate to pick the right rock that will actually support production. That has been very much our philosophy right from the start and something we've very deliberately applied as we've expanded our footprint and the resources in the area.

Speaker #4: And so I think, yeah, as a project developer, one needs to be very deliberate to pick the right rock that will actually support production.

Speaker #4: And that has been very much our philosophy right from the start and something we've very deliberately applied as we've expanded our footprint and the resources in the area.

Noel Parks: Terrific. Then on the offtake financing picture, I was just curious in terms of the partners you're talking with, several of which I imagine are kind of the usual suspects who expect to be interested in lithium. I was just wondering if any of those parties themselves are in partnership, you know, with other strategic or financial parties. I guess I was thinking that, you know, compared to a few years ago when, you know, EV-related capital was driving a lot of the interest. Now that you have the AI power, capital also, you know, thinking about energy storage also, pushing its way into the mix.

Speaker #7: Terrific. And then on the off-take financing picture, I was just curious—in terms of the partners you're talking with, several of which I imagine are kind of the usual suspects you'd expect to be interested in lithium.

Speaker #7: I was just wondering if any of those parties themselves are in partnership with other strategic or financial parties? And I guess I was thinking that compared to a few years ago, when EV-related capital was driving a lot of the interest, now that you have the AI power capital also thinking about energy storage, also pushing its way into the mix.

Noel Parks: I just wondered if, you know, whereas a few years ago you were talking with a particular type of manufacturer, and now it's that manufacturer and some other type of fund, for example, that is anxious to get exposure to lithium, stepping up alongside them.

Speaker #7: I just wondered if whereas a few years ago, you were talking with a particular type of manufacturer, and now it's that manufacturer and some other type of fund, for example, that is anxious to get exposure to lithium.

Speaker #7: Stepping up alongside them.

Speaker #4: Interesting question. I'll just say on the off-take side, from day one, we've been focused on seeking out partners or customers with strong balance sheets that are exposed to various segments of the lithium market.

David Park: Interesting question. I'll just say on the offtake side, from day one we've been focused on seeking out partners or customers with strong balance sheets that are exposed to various segments of the lithium market. We are involved in discussions with players that, you know, represent all those different demand nodes for lithium at this point in time. We're very careful not to put all our eggs in the EV basket. Obviously important to have exposure to that basket. It's a very large part of the market, but it's not the only part. We're gonna make sure that we are exposed to the AI and data center trade as well. We're involved in discussions with all of those parties.

Speaker #4: And we are involved in discussions with players that represent all those different demand nodes for lithium at this point in time. So we're very careful not to put all our eggs in the EV basket.

Speaker #4: Obviously important to have exposure to that basket. It's a very large part of the market, but it's not the only part. And we're going to make sure that we are exposed to the AI and data center trade as well.

Speaker #4: So we're involved in discussions with all of those parties. But the and then I'll say on the project financing side, it's, again, it's export credit agencies that we are talking to about providing the non-or limited recourse financing.

David Park: Then I'll say on the project financing side, it's again Export Credit Agencies that we are talking to about providing the non- or limited recourse financing for the project.

Speaker #4: For the project.

Speaker #7: Okay. Great. Thanks a lot.

Noel Parks: Okay, great. Thanks a lot.

Operator: We have now reached the end of the Q&A session. This concludes today's call. Thank you for attending. You may now disconnect.