Select Water Solutions Inc. and LibertyStream Infrastructure Partners Inc. signed a definitive agreement to deploy commercial lithium carbonate production facilities across Select’s existing water treatment and recycling sites in the Midland Basin, Texas. Through this partnership, the companies aim to extract lithium from oilfield brines and convert it into battery-grade lithium carbonate, strengthening domestic supply for the fast-growing U.S. electric vehicle (EV) and energy storage markets.
Three-Stage Development Plan to Scale Production
To accelerate commercialization, the companies have structured the project into a three-stage rollout.
Stage 1: First Facility by End-2026
Construction will begin with site preparation in March 2026, followed by full-scale development in the second quarter. The first carbonate facility will be commissioned by December 2026 at an existing Select site in Howard County, Texas.
Once operational, the plant will produce up to 1,000 tonnes per year of lithium carbonate, supplying U.S. customers.
Stage 2: Capacity Expansion in 2027
LibertyStream will then commission a second facility by June 2027, adding another 1,000 tonnes per annum of battery-grade lithium carbonate capacity.
Stage 3: Multi-Site Growth Across the Basin
Beginning in July 2027, LibertyStream plans to deploy at least two additional facilities at Select locations across Howard, Martin, Midland, Upton, and Glasscock counties—significantly scaling regional lithium output.
Leveraging Existing Water Infrastructure for Lithium Extraction
A key differentiator of the project is its integration with Select’s established water infrastructure. Instead of building new standalone plants, the partners will utilize Select’s network of pipelines, recycling systems, disposal wells, and treatment facilities.
By embedding lithium extraction into this platform, the companies can:
*Reduce capital expenditure
*Lower operating costs
*Eliminate major pre-treatment steps
*Accelerate deployment timelines
As a result, the approach creates a faster and more cost-efficient path to commercial lithium production.
Leadership Perspective
John Schmitz, Chairman, President and CEO of Select, emphasized, “This project leverages Select’s market-leading infrastructure network while unlocking the resource value inherent in the large volumes of produced water that move through it each day. By integrating lithium extraction into our existing water platform, we are creating meaningful incremental value from assets already in place.”
Alex Wylie, President and CEO of LibertyStream, highlighted, “We have made tremendous progress scaling our lithium extraction and carbonate refining processes in the Permian Basin over the past 18 months. We are excited to partner with Select—an organization with the experience, infrastructure, and operational reach needed to unlock the vast lithium resource contained in Permian Basin oilfield brines.”
Turning Oilfield Waste into High-Value Battery Materials
Importantly, the project aligns with Select’s broader strategy to transform oil and gas waste streams into new revenue sources. By extracting lithium from produced water, the company can convert an existing byproduct into a high-margin critical mineral for the clean energy supply chain.
This multi-use infrastructure model helps:
*Increase asset utilization
*Generate incremental revenue streams
*Enhance returns on invested capital
*Support long-term profitability
Furthermore, fixed offtake and pricing agreements are expected to provide stable, predictable cash flows.
Strengthening U.S. Lithium Supply Chain
As demand for EV batteries and energy storage accelerates, domestic lithium production has become increasingly critical. Through this partnership, Select and LibertyStream aim to strengthen U.S. lithium independence while capitalizing on the Permian Basin’s vast brine resources. As per the press release, the companies are combining infrastructure, technology, and operational scale. This positions Texas as a key hub for commercial lithium carbonate manufacturing.
