The Government of Saskatchewan says its final subsurface mineral public offering for the 2021-22 fiscal year has raised $3,205,870.20 in revenue for the province.

That is the highest amount since the subsurface mineral public offering process began in 2018. The record amount of money raised this fiscal year can be contributed to the increased interest and demand for lithium.

In total, the province has collected nearly $7.5 million from the three subsurface mineral public offerings this fiscal year.

The highest bid was $420,915.71 from NRG LandSolutions Inc. for an 8,094.533 hectare block 28 km southwest of Torquay that is prospective for minerals in formation water such as lithium.

The highest dollars per hectare bid was for a parcel 6 km east of Bethune that is prospective for potash. The permit, acquired by Buffalo Potash Corp., was $61.50 per hectare for a total of $212,773.81.

No posting requests have been received for the next scheduled subsurface mineral public offering on February 7, 2022, and therefore has been cancelled. The next subsurface mineral public offering will be held on June 27, 2022.