Minister Rebecca Schulz announces funding to E3 Lithium. (Government of Alberta)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

$5M FROM TIER PROGRAM

E3 Lithium receives provincial funding to commercialize extraction technology

Aug 15, 2024 | 11:14 AM

Due to a rising global demand for lithium, the Government of Alberta is providing Calgary-based E3 Lithium with $5 million through the industry-funded Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) program.

Announced in Mountain View County on Thursday, officials say the funding is intended to help the company commercialize a new technology that extracts lithium naturally found in saltwater, or brines, produced by the oil and gas sector. The lithium extracted is then turned into products that can be sold to battery producers and automotive companies.

Lithium is used to create batteries for a wide range of electronics like pacemakers and other medical equipment, smartphones and laptops, alarm systems, and electric vehicles. The government says massive amounts of lithium will be needed to meet this growing demand.

It is expected that commercializing E3 Lithium’s technology will help diversify the economy, attract investment, and create high-paying energy sector jobs in Alberta.

“There is a critical minerals race happening worldwide, and Alberta is setting the pace. Home to Canada’s largest brine reserves, well-documented drill sites and a talented oil and gas workforce, our province is the best place for E3 Lithium to get this great technology closer to commercialization. Together, we are supporting jobs, diversifying the economy, and creating a brighter energy future where Alberta is a global leader in lithium production,” says Minister of Environment and Protected Areas Rebecca Schulz.

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When industry explores and extracts oil and natural gas, it creates saltwater known as oilfield brine. Officials say E3 Lithium’s process takes this brine, which is typically considered waste that a company reinjects underground, and transforms it into a type of lithium. This process does not require any additional freshwater, and it also reduces environmental impacts and saves thousands of dollars compared to traditional extraction methods, officials say.

In 2023, the government says E3 Lithium opened Alberta’s first lithium extraction facility near Olds, where it ran a pilot program to test different extraction methods. New provincial funding delivered through Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) will be used to further prove this technology at the extraction facility.

“E3 is on the path to building a new industry in the province. As we prove the technology at an increasing scale, we increase the certainty that Alberta can be a major lithium-producing jurisdiction,” says Chris Doornbos, president and CEO of E3 Lithium. “ERA’s funding is crucial for developing a commercial facility and producing battery-grade lithium. This investment not only supports E3 but also opens new opportunities for the province and positions Alberta as a leader in critical minerals innovation.”

The project is expected to help E3 Lithium study how its technology will perform on a small scale, helping to mitigate risks and provide important data on how much lithium can be produced annually for a future, full-scale commercial facility estimated to begin construction in 2026. Government officials say E3 Lithium is the first company to lead this type of extraction project in Alberta.

According to provincial officials, Alberta is home to one of the world’s largest lithium deposits, located deep underground in the Leduc geological formation, which is also a major oil and gas producing area. E3 Lithium holds the mineral rights to an estimated 16 million tonnes of lithium resource and a proven lithium mineral reserve of 1.13 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent.

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