Lilac picks Hatch to deliver Great Salt Lake lithium plant

Lilac Solutions selected Hatch as EPCM partner for its first commercial lithium carbonate facility on Utah’s Great Salt Lake, moving the project closer to a final investment decision expected later in 2026. The 5,000-tonne-per-year plant is slated for first production in 2028 and is backed by a 10-year offtake deal covering all planned Phase 1 output.

Why it matters: - The partnership moves one of the first U.S. lithium brine projects closer to construction and final investment decision. - The facility could add domestic lithium supply at a time when U.S. battery supply chains remain heavily import-dependent. - The project is designed to extract lithium without lowering Great Salt Lake water levels, a key issue for local stakeholders.

What happened: - Lilac Solutions selected Hatch as the engineering, procurement and construction management partner for its Phase 1 commercial lithium carbonate facility on Utah’s Great Salt Lake. - Hatch will engineer, procure, manage construction and oversee commissioning of the 5,000-tonne-per-annum plant. - The agreement includes a limited notice to proceed, allowing detailed engineering and early procurement to begin before the final investment decision. - Lilac expects the final investment decision later in 2026. - First lithium production is planned for 2028.

The details: - The Phase 1 facility will be built on a 20-acre site on the north arm of the Great Salt Lake in Box Elder County, Utah. - The plant will use Lilac’s Gen 5 ion exchange technology to extract lithium directly from lake brine. - The same volume of lithium-depleted brine will be returned to the lake. - Lilac describes the process as non-consumptive and says it does not lower lake water levels. - The project is expected to generate local tax revenues and royalties that support lake preservation. - The project is expected to create jobs in Utah. - The ion exchange media for the process will be manufactured at Lilac’s Fernley, Nevada facility. - Lilac says that keeps the supply chain domestic and removes dependence on Chinese suppliers. - The north arm of the Great Salt Lake holds an estimated 1.4 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent. - Lilac completed pilot operations on the lake in 2025. - Those pilots showed an 87% average lithium recovery from high-sulfate brine containing 70 mg/L lithium. - Third-party sampling and lab analysis confirmed the technology’s performance and validated the process as non-consumptive and non-contaminating. - Lilac has also completed FEL-3 engineering. - Lilac has a binding 10-year take-or-pay offtake agreement with Traxys North America covering 100% of planned Phase 1 production.

Between the lines: - Hatch brings established project delivery experience in mining, energy and infrastructure, which can reduce execution risk as the project moves toward financing and construction. - The combination of completed engineering, an offtake agreement and EPCM selection strengthens the project’s readiness for final investment decision. - The Great Salt Lake site is positioned as both a commercial lithium source and a preservation story, linking industrial development with environmental sensitivity.

What's next: - Lilac and Hatch will advance detailed engineering and early procurement under the limited notice to proceed. - The project is expected to reach final investment decision later in 2026. - Construction would follow if the project clears that milestone. - Lilac expects the facility to begin producing lithium in 2028.

The bottom line: - Lilac is moving its Great Salt Lake project from development into execution, with Hatch now responsible for turning the plan into a buildable commercial plant. - The project has financing, technical validation and offtake support, making it a notable test case for U.S. lithium brine development.