Can You Invest in EnergyX Pre-IPO? Here's What You Need to Know

What is EnergyX?

EnergyX (Energy Exploration Technologies) is a Puerto Rico–based company focusing on direct lithium extraction and refining, offering a faster, cleaner alternative to traditional evaporation ponds, which take 18 months and create significant environmental damage. Each ton of lithium mined today produces roughly 15 tons of CO₂.

EnergyX says its tech can produce lithium in days, cut the typical 15-square-mile footprint to under 0.2 square miles, and lower costs from about $4,200 to $3,500 per ton. Lithium demand -- 300,000 tons in 2020 -- could reach 5.5 million tons by 2040 as Tesla, Ford, and GM expand EV output.

Founded in 2018 by Teague Egan, EnergyX has raised $199.5 million, holds 100+ patents, and targets 20–50 tons of annual production early on, with a goal of 500,000 tons by 2030. Revenue would come from lithium production, tech-based fees, and selling replacement materials.

The company recently launched Project Lonestar in the Arkansas-Texas-Louisiana region and opened a new R&D hub in Austin. Lithium prices remain volatile, peaking at $80,000 per ton in 2022 and falling below $10,000 in early 2025—but S&P Global expects stabilization around $20,000–$25,000 through 2027.

Should you invest in lithium stocks?

You may want to skip buying a lithium-related stock if:

• You believe the demand for lithium is exaggerated.
• You think interest rates will remain high, discouraging potential EV buyers.
• Promised production numbers or new lithium mining methods look too good to be true
• You're skeptical about the sustainability of lithium mining.
• You're concerned about the political stability of lithium-rich countries.
• You don't understand the market for lithium.

On the other hand, you may want to go ahead and buy a lithium-related stock if:

• You believe demand will continue to rise for lithium, even absent growth in electric vehicles.
• You think that the energy transition will accelerate, increasing the need for lithium.
• You believe the lithium industry can become more environmentally friendly.
• You think lithium prices will eventually rebound from their recent lows.
• You think the economy will rebound when interest rates are lowered, increasing interest in EVs.

As with any other investment, there's a short answer to why you might consider investing in this stock: It depends. Factors that might affect your decision include the level of your portfolio diversification, personal risk tolerance, company and industry knowledge, and assessment of a stock's competitive position.

If you've decided the pros of investing in the company outweigh the cons, then complete the order page, click the "Place Order" button at the bottom, and become a shareholder.

The bottom line

There's no doubt that a massive change in energy markets is underway. Electric vehicles accounted for 4% of total car sales in 2020 but were expected by the International Energy Agency to grow to 20% in 2024. That's going to require a lot of lithium, and companies like EnergyX could be poised to take advantage of the trend.

Despite its promise, though, EnergyX is far from profitable, and there's no guarantee that it will turn the corner. Its solicitation for investments on social media platforms is unusual; it's hardly the sign of a company that's confident in its ability to attract significant investment. If and when EnergyX goes public, investors who believe in the company's future should consider it as part of a long-term buy-and-hold strategy.

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