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Highlights:

  •  Livium finalises joint venture with Mineral Resources Ltd to commercialise LieNA® lithium processing technology.
  • Livium and MinRes each hold 50% of LieNA Pty Ltd, which owns all LieNA® intellectual property.
  • Livium extends demonstration plant timelines to monitor market conditions and assess alternative options.

Livium Ltd (ASX:LIT) announced it has formalised a 50:50 joint venture (JV) with Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX:MIN) to progress the commercialisation of the LieNA® lithium processing technology. The arrangement follows the completion of Stage 1A activities under the companies’ Joint Development Agreement (JDA). The JV entity, LieNA Pty Ltd, was previously a wholly owned subsidiary of Livium and holds the intellectual property for the LieNA® technology. The JV is structured to license the technology to third parties, targeting a headline gross product royalty rate of 8%. This licensing model is designed to expand the addressable market by enabling potential royalty revenue from lithium production at any mine using the LieNA® process.

Under the agreement, Livium and MinRes each hold an equal share in LieNA Pty Ltd. The parties have executed documentation under the JDA, a Convertible Note Deed, and a Shareholders Agreement outlining governance and decision-making protocols for the JV. MinRes will issue a Conversion Notice, and LieNA Pty Ltd will issue shares to MinRes equal to those held by Livium. The JV has sufficient funding in place, and the remaining AUD 281,000 available under the original AUD 4.5 million Convertible Note will not be drawn.

The next planned step for the technology’s commercial pathway is the development of the LieNA® Demonstration Plant. This facility is intended to operate on a semi-commercial basis to extract lithium salt at scale under a licence agreement. MinRes may choose to independently fund, develop, and operate the plant. For MinRes projects, royalties will be payable at a discounted rate to the headline figure, reflecting its early involvement in the JV. However, both parties acknowledge current lithium market conditions including pricing and demand trends  do not presently support the economic construction and funding of the demonstration facility. As a result, deadlines previously agreed for the plant have been extended. This allows time to monitor market developments and assess alternative partnership and monetisation options for the LieNA® technology.

Livium’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Simon Linge, said the formalisation of the JV marks the culmination of work initiated two years ago. He noted that the focus will be on scaling Livium’s lithium recycling business while jointly exploring ways to capture short- or medium-term value from the technology. A spokesperson from Mineral Resources said the company views the LieNA® technology as having potential in the lithium processing sector and aims to work with Livium to translate the technical progress achieved into commercial outcomes.

LIT is trading 10.00% higher at AUD 0.011 per share as of 11 August 2025.