Aqua Rare Metals (ARM) has announced a new partnership focused on the engineering and deployment of a Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) pilot program. The collaboration represents an important step in advancing ARM’s strategy to move from resource identification to field-based validation of critical raw material recovery from produced water.
Advancing from data to pilots
Following ongoing CRM screening and sampling activities, ARM is progressing selected opportunities toward pilot-scale testing. The new partnership brings specialized engineering and technology expertise to support the design, integration, and operation of a modular DLE pilot system.
The objective is to validate extraction performance under real operating conditions using representative produced water streams from European oil and gas assets.
Scope of the collaboration
The partnership will focus on key elements required for successful pilot execution, including:
- DLE technology integration tailored to specific brine chemistries
- Pilot process and mechanical design
- Modular, containerized system layouts
- Integration with offshore and onshore facilities
- Operational and HSE considerations
The pilot will be designed to minimize footprint and disruption to existing operations, leveraging established infrastructure wherever possible.
Technology-agnostic approach
ARM maintains a technology-neutral philosophy and continuously evaluates multiple DLE and selective extraction solutions. The partnership enables structured testing of extraction efficiency, selectivity, scalability, and operability—critical inputs for future commercial decisions.
Pilot data will support:
- Verification of lithium recovery rates
- Assessment of impurity management and scaling behavior
- Refinement of operating and cost assumptions
- Engagement with potential off-take and financing partners
Supporting Europe’s CRM ambitions
By advancing toward pilot-scale validation, ARM strengthens its contribution to Europe’s objective of securing sustainable and local supplies of critical raw materials. Integrating DLE into existing energy infrastructure offers a complementary pathway to traditional mining, with lower environmental impact and faster development timelines.
Next steps
Engineering work for the pilot program will commence immediately, with deployment planned following final site selection and permitting alignment. Results from the pilot will inform ARM’s commercialization roadmap and future partnerships.
Further updates will be shared as the project progresses.