A joint venture between Prairie Lithium Corporation and LiEP Energy Limited will bring lithium exploration and development to Saskatchewan. Stage one of the project will produce 1 to 1.75 kilograms of lithium hydroxide per day. Stage two will include construction of Canada’s first lithium extraction refining facility, producing one tonne of lithium hydroxide per day. This will serve as a demonstration plant prior to full commercialization.

The product will be generated from oilfield brines and is expected to take under six hours to go from raw brine to refined lithium. The current industry standard is 18 months.

Stage one is set to begin this July in Regina with the second stage planned for the second half of 2021 with field operations in southern Saskatchewan.

Global demand for Lithium is forecast to grow by ten per cent per year between 2019 and 2024 because of expanded use of rechargeable lithium ion batteries in electric cars and portable devices. It’s also used in glass and ceramics as well as greases and lubricants.