GeoFrame to break ground on major lithium project in Texas

GeoFrame Energy announced Tuesday it will break ground this summer on a lithium extraction facility in East Texas, in a move poised to reshape the US clean energy landscape.

The project aims to secure a domestic supply of battery-grade lithium carbonate, a critical component in electric vehicle and energy storage batteries, amid growing global competition and tightening Chinese export controls.

The company said the facility will be the first in the United States to extract lithium carbonate from the Smackover Formation, an extensive, porous, and permeable limestone aquifer that hosts vast volumes of mineral rich brine. 

GeoFrame plans to tap into these lithium-rich brines using direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology powered by geothermal energy. The method was developed by Australia’s Ekosolve in partnership with the University of Melbourne. 

Backed by Halliburton as its drilling partner, GeoFrame expects to begin production in early 2026 and scale up to 83,500 tonnes annually by 2029 — enough to meet 100% of the country’s current demand.

Last year, US lithium demand was estimated to be around 70,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE). 

Currently, only 44.7% of US lithium demand is met by domestic production, rising to 76.4% when including Canadian supply.

“This is about energy independence and sustainable innovation,” chief executive officer Bruce Cutright said in a statement.

“We’re not just producing lithium—we’re producing it responsibly, with geothermal power, no hard rock mining, and minimal environmental impact.”

Spanning more than 7,400 acres in East Texas, the site is expected to serve as a model for eco-conscious extraction. Unlike traditional methods that strain freshwater supplies and cause environmental damage, GeoFrame’s system boasts up to 95% recovery rates with significantly reduced water use and no harmful pollutants.

The timing is critical. As China imposes new restrictions on lithium exports amid a tariffs war with the US and Washington scrambles to shore up its supply chains. 

President Donald Trump signed in March an executive order invoking emergency powers to increase domestic production of key minerals including lithium and nickel, citing national security and economic resilience.

The project highlights a broader shift in lithium production strategy, as Ekosolve’s technology uses low concentrations of chemicals, very little power, and almost no water.