The signing of a letter of intent between Nevada Lithium Resources and South Korea’s Hydro Lithium. The non-binding agreement focuses on the implementation of advanced technologies for the extraction of critical minerals in the Bonnie Claire deposit, located in Nye County, Nevada.
Preliminary agreement for the Bonnie Claire field
This document signed on September 7, 2025, contemplates the evaluation of the CULH and CULX processes, developed by Dr. Uong Chon, current CEO of Hydro Lithium and recognized for his previous work with POSCO ‘s PosLX technology . POSCO’S POSLX TECHNOLOGY. These innovations would allow Nevada Lithium to optimize the recovery of lithium and boron, as well as other elements on the U.S. critical minerals list.
Nevada Lithium owns 100% of the Bonnie Claire project, which covers more than 18,000 acres and whose preliminary economic assessment released in August 2025 projects annual production of 62,300 tons of lithium carbonate and 129,500 tons of boric acid over six decades. The company estimates an internal rate of return of 32.3% and a payback in less than three years, backed by a competitive operating cost.
The collaboration is not limited to the Nevada field. The agreement opens the door to future joint initiatives on other potential properties in North America. Hydro Lithium, for its part, currently operates a plant in South Korea with a capacity of 3600 tons per year of lithium battery chemicals, and is building a second facility with projected capacity of up to 50,000 tons per year by 2030.
The link between the two companies reflects a geostrategic alignment around the supply of essential materials for the global energy transition. According to Stephen Rentschler, CEO of Nevada Lithium, the alliance with Hydro Lithium represents an opportunity to enhance the value of the project and add efficient technologies with low environmental impact. Dr. Chon also highlighted his firm’s interest in establishing partnerships with operators that have underutilized resources in the Americas.
Also, the letter of intent expires on September 25, 2026 or at the time of signing a definitive agreement. In the meantime, both companies will advance in joint studies that could redefine the technical and economic viability of lithium in North America.
Source and photo: Nevada Lithium
