LibertyStream Infrastructure Partners Inc. (TSXV:LIB, OTCQB:VLTLF, FSE: I2D)) ("LibertyStream" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a significant development milestone, having successfully processed over 250,000 barrels of Permian brine at its Texas field unit using its proprietary Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology. This achievement reflects nine months of sustained operational delivery and targeted system enhancements, positioning the Company to enter the final stage of de-risking: converting lithium chloride eluate into commercial-grade lithium carbonate. Through continuous improvement of its technology and operating systems, LibertyStream has significantly reduced operational risk, reinforcing its readiness for scaled field deployment and lithium production.
"We are very pleased to achieve the 250,000-barrel technical DLE processing milestone," said Alex Wylie, President & CEO of LibertyStream. "Since the start of 2025, our Field Team has operated seven days a week, relentlessly focused on upgrading and improving our system in preparation for commercial deployment. As we approach the fourth quarter, the commissioning of our refining unit and subsequent conversion of stockpiled lithium eluate into commercial-grade lithium carbonate marks the final critical step toward launching full-scale operations in 2026."
Field-Tested Proven Operations
LibertyStream has processed more than 250,000 barrels of brine utilizing its Proprietary DLE Technology through its field unit in Texas, conducting thousands of test cycles and production cycles in real-world oilfield conditions. The Field Team has been focused on continuous system improvements over the past nine months, improving overall system performance.
Some of the key operational improvements include the following:
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Pre-Treatment: LibertyStream has implemented a targeted pre-treatment step within its DLE operations to remove iron and organic compounds from the brine. This enhancement has significantly improved extraction efficiency while simultaneously reducing reagent consumption, resulting in better cost control across field operations.
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Fluid Temperature Management: Throughout the processing of over 250,000 barrels of brine, LibertyStream's Field Team conducted extensive testing across a range of temperatures in both the DLE and Acid Recovery stages. By fine-tuning thermal conditions to enhance system kinetics, the team identified an optimal balance between performance, cycle speed, and energy input. This targeted approach has led to faster cycle times and reduced operating costs, further strengthening the efficiency of the DLE process.
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System Design Improvements: Since initiating field operations in February 2025, LibertyStream's Field Team has deployed a four-module system to enable real-time experimentation and performance benchmarking. This modular approach has allowed the team to test and refine design enhancements across individual units, using comparative analysis to identify optimal configurations. The result is a continuously operating field unit that supports iterative innovation while driving consistent improvements in system performance. Further, it has confirmed the Company's strategy of deploying multiple modules to satisfy production requirements in the field.
Final Stage: De-Risking – Lithium Carbonate Field Production
LibertyStream is entering the final stage of operational de-risking with the anticipated arrival and commissioning of its lithium carbonate refining unit in the first half of the fourth quarter of 2025.
This milestone marks a critical step toward demonstrating full-cycle field production. In preparation, the Field Team has begun site development activities, including the installation of concrete pads and on-site electrical generation to support the refining infrastructure.
Additionally, the team has built an inventory of lithium chloride eluate, ensuring a ready supply for processing once the unit becomes operational. Upon commissioning, LibertyStream aims to showcase seamless, single-location execution—transforming oilfield-produced brine directly into technical and battery-grade lithium carbonate, all within the field environment.
Scale of Opportunity
LibertyStream's scalable growth opportunity is rooted in the extensive, long-standing infrastructure of North America's premier oil-producing regions. The Permian Basin alone produces over 20 million barrels of water daily, supported by a vast network of disposal wells and trunklines that have operated reliably for decades. In the Bakken, an additional 1.5 to 1.7 million barrels per day are managed by similarly mature systems.
These existing networks—representing billions of dollars in cumulative investment—offer a de-risked and cost-efficient foundation for lithium extraction, eliminating the need for new produced water infrastructure to support LibertyStream's DLE process.
Based solely on the Permian and Bakken, the company projects an upper production potential of approximately 220,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of lithium carbonate equivalent, with field operations already validating the technology. Looking ahead, LibertyStream anticipates modular expansion into additional basins across North America and beyond, paving a sustained and de-risked pathway for long-term growth.
Broader Relevance
LibertyStream's operational model holds strong relevance in today's investment landscape, where public and institutional funding bodies consistently prioritize de-risked projects as prerequisites for capital allocation 1,2,3. These entities emphasize the need for proven infrastructure, validated field performance, and modular scalability—criteria that LibertyStream meets with confidence.
By leveraging mature oilfield networks, demonstrating real-world DLE success, and deploying a replicable modular system, the company positions itself as a compelling candidate for scaled commercial deployment. This alignment reinforces LibertyStream's leadership in the emerging lithium extraction sector.
Closing Statement
"LibertyStream is uniquely positioned as a de-risked leader in Direct Lithium Extraction," said Alex Wylie, President & CEO. "Our operations are field-tested and validated, underpinned by billions of dollars in proven oilfield infrastructure, and driven by a capital-efficient deployment model that reduces risk while accelerating growth. With refining and upgrading activities set to begin, we are prepared to scale across the largest oilfields in the U.S. - built on a foundation that is already operational, dependable, and designed for scalability."
About LibertyStream Infrastructure Partners
LibertyStream is a lithium development and technology company aiming to be one of North America's first commercial producers of lithium carbonates from oilfield brine. Our strategy is to generate value for shareholders by leveraging management's hydrocarbon experience to deploy our proprietary DLE technology directly into existing oil and gas infrastructure, thereby reducing capital costs, lowering risks and supporting the world's clean energy transition. With four differentiating pillars, and a proprietary DLE technology and process, LibertyStream's innovative approach to development is focused on generating the highest lithium recoveries with lowest costs, positioning us for future commercialization. We are committed to operating efficiently and with transparency across all areas of the business staying sharply focused on creating long-term, sustainable shareholder value. Investors and/or other interested parties may sign up for updates about the Company's continued progress on its website: https://LibertyStream.com/.
Forward Looking Statements
This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "plan", "forecast", "may", "will", "would", "could", "schedule" and similar words or expressions, identify forward-looking statements or information. Statements, other than statements of historical fact, may constitute forward-looking information and include, without limitation, management's expectations relating to the processing capacity of its DLE unit and expectations of production of lithium carbonate therefrom, the anticipated benefits to the Company's customers relating to the deployment of the Refining Unit, the Company being one of the first commercial producers of lithium carbonate from oilfield brine, the reduction of capital costs associated with lithium carbonate extraction from oilfield brine by the use of existing oil and gas infrastructure, and the support of clean energy transition efforts caused by the deploy of the Company's proprietary DLE Technology. With respect to the forward-looking information contained in this press release, the Company has made numerous assumptions. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies and may prove to be incorrect. Additionally, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein including the risk that management's production estimates relating to the Refining Unit turn out to be incorrect, and generally, those known risk factors outlined in the Company's annual information form for the year ended June 30, 2024, the Management's Discussion and Analysis for the six months ended December 31, 2024, and the (final) short form base shelf prospectus dated July 20, 2023. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as required by law.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
Supporting References
¹ U.S. Department of Energy – Loan Programs Office. How the DOE Loan Programs Office Understands and Manages Portfolio Credit Risk. Link
² CTVC. The Investor's Guide to the DOE. 2023. Link
³ OECD. De-risking Institutional Investment in Green Infrastructure. OECD Publishing, 2021. PDF Link
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250923597039/en/
For Investor Relations inquiries or further information, please contact:
Alex Wylie, President & CEO
T: +1.972.626.1645
E: info@libertystream.com
Or
Bill McClain, Investor Relations
T: +1.604.773.9423
E: info@libertystream.com
