E3 Lithium Outlines Demonstration Program Objectives to Advance Lithium Production in Alberta
E3 Lithium has outlined its Demonstration Facility Project objectives to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate in Alberta. The project, supported by a $5M CAD grant from Emissions Reduction Alberta, will be operational by mid-2025. The Demo Project includes six main systems: brine production, pre-DLE treatment, scaled-up DLE system, post-DLE treatment, carbonation equipment, and water recovery. The facility aims to replicate commercial system functionality at a smaller scale, testing the cohesiveness of each unit when operated simultaneously. Equipment manufacturing will begin in early 2024, with an expected 4-5 months delivery timeline.
E3 Lithium ha delineato gli obiettivi del suo progetto di impianto dimostrativo per produrre carbonato di litio di qualità per batterie in Alberta. Il progetto, sostenuto da un finanziamento di 5 milioni di CAD da Emissions Reduction Alberta, sarà operativo entro metà 2025. Il progetto dimostrativo include sei sistemi principali: produzione di salamoia, trattamento pre-DLE, sistema DLE su scala ampliata, trattamento post-DLE, attrezzature per la carbonatazione e recupero dell'acqua. L'impianto si propone di replicare la funzionalità dei sistemi commerciali su scala ridotta, testando la coesione di ciascun'unità quando operano simultaneamente. La produzione delle attrezzature inizierà all'inizio del 2024, con una tempistica di consegna prevista di 4-5 mesi.
E3 Lithium ha expuesto los objetivos de su proyecto de instalación de demostración para producir carbonato de litio de calidad para baterías en Alberta. El proyecto, respaldado por una subvención de 5 millones de CAD de Emissions Reduction Alberta, estará operativo a mediados de 2025. El proyecto de demostración incluye seis sistemas principales: producción de salmuera, tratamiento previo a DLE, sistema DLE ampliado, tratamiento posterior a DLE, equipo de carbonatación y recuperación de agua. La instalación tiene como objetivo replicar la funcionalidad de los sistemas comerciales a menor escala, probando la cohesión de cada unidad cuando se opera simultáneamente. La fabricación de equipos comenzará a principios de 2024, con un plazo de entrega esperado de 4-5 meses.
E3 Lithium는 앨버타에서 배터리 등급 리튬 탄산염을 생산하기 위한 시연 시설 프로젝트 목표를 정리했습니다. 이 프로젝트는 Emissions Reduction Alberta로부터의 을 지원받으며, 2025년 중반에 운영을 시작할 예정입니다. 시연 프로젝트에는 여섯 가지 주요 시스템이 포함됩니다: 염수 생산, DLE 전처리, 확대된 DLE 시스템, DLE 후처리, 탄산화 장비 및 물 회수. 이 시설은 상업적 시스템의 기능을 소규모로 복제하여 동시에 운영될 때 각 유닛의 응집력을 테스트하는 것을 목표로 합니다. 장비 제작은 2024년 초에 시작되며, 4-5개월의 배송 기간이 예상됩니다.
E3 Lithium a exposé les objectifs de son projet d'installation de démonstration pour produire du carbonate de lithium de qualité pour batteries en Alberta. Le projet, soutenu par une subvention de 5 millions de CAD de Emissions Reduction Alberta, sera opérationnel d'ici la mi-2025. Le projet de démonstration comprend six systèmes principaux : production de saumure, traitement pré-DLE, système DLE à grande échelle, traitement post-DLE, équipements de carbonatation et récupération d'eau. L'installation vise à reproduire la fonctionnalité des systèmes commerciaux à une échelle plus réduite, en testant la cohésion de chaque unité lorsqu'elles fonctionnent simultanément. La fabrication des équipements commencera début 2024, avec un délai de livraison prévu de 4 à 5 mois.
E3 Lithium hat die Ziele seines Demonstrationsanlagenprojekts zur Produktion von Batterie-Qualitäts-Lithiumkarbonat in Alberta umrissen. Das Projekt, das von einem 5 Millionen CAD Zuschuss von Emissions Reduction Alberta unterstützt wird, soll Mitte 2025 betriebsbereit sein. Das Demoprojekt umfasst sechs Hauptsysteme: Salzlake-Produktion, Vorbehandlung, skalierte DLE-Anlage, Nachbehandlung, Karbonisierungsausrüstung und Wasseraufbereitung. Die Anlage hat zum Ziel, die Funktionsweise gewerblicher Systeme im kleineren Maßstab nachzubilden und die Kohärenz jeder Einheit zu testen, wenn sie gleichzeitig betrieben wird. Die Herstellung der Ausrüstung beginnt Anfang 2024, mit einer voraussichtlichen Lieferzeit von 4-5 Monaten.
- Secured $5M CAD grant from Emissions Reduction Alberta
- Project advances towards commercial-scale production capability
- Comprehensive end-to-end demonstration facility development
- Production not expected until mid-2025
- Still in pre-commercial development phase
Overview of the Demonstration Program
The Demo Project will encompass the full suite of process operations, from brine production, pretreatment and lithium carbonate production. The overarching goal is to replicate the functionality of the E3 Lithium commercial system at a smaller scale, to test the cohesiveness of each unit when operated simultaneously. The project will be divided into six main systems, each designed to operate as close to a commercial system as possible.
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Brine Production: likely to occur in two stages, the brine will be sourced from the aquifer to feed the production equipment to generate lithium carbonate. A second stage will increase brine production volume to emulate a commercial production well, testing the reservoir properties at this scale.
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Pre-DLE Brine Treatment: separate the entrained gas in the brine, this step will remove these gases using conventional petroleum industry two-phase separation equipment, producing a brine that can be fed directly into the DLE system.
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Scaled-up DLE system: A larger scale, fully automated, DLE system will be deployed to mimic, as closely as possible, the same process operations that will be deployed in the commercial facility. This includes the numbers of vessels per module, how brine enters and exits the vessels and the sequence of rinse and desorption steps. The sorbent will be sourced from a third-party vendor for the DLE system in line with our Pre-Feasibility Study (“PFS”).
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Post- DLE Treatment: This step further concentrates and refines the lithium chloride from the DLE system, optimized to produce battery-grade lithium as the final step.
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Carbonation equipment: Sodium carbonate, sourced from a commercial supplier, will be added to the lithium chloride in a reactor to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate. As outlined in E3 Lithium’s PFS, the byproduct of this step is sodium chloride (table salt), which can be added back into the brine for disposal.
- Water recovery: process water streams from the post-DLE treatment will be collected, where appropriate, to be used as strip fluid for desorbing the lithium from the sorbent in the DLE step.
As outlined, E3 Lithium is Commissioning the Carbonation Equipment in the laboratory in
The Demo Project will be built and subsequently operated in defined phases:
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The engineering and design of the equipment are well underway, with the focus on a design that closely resembles a commercial operating unit.
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Equipment manufacturing is set to begin in the new year, with an expected four to five months to delivery on site.
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Commissioning will occur on-site with brine that has already been produced, accelerating the commissioning process.
- Once the system is operating to the designed specifications, the live brine stream will be connected, enabling end-to-end operations to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate.
The lithium carbonate can be further converted to lithium hydroxide with one of our partner equipment vendors to define the process operations for that final step.
The success of our Demo Project, operated from our field location in
Confirm the process to achieving battery-grade lithium carbonate under commercial conditions.
Provide consistent product to our potential customers over an extended period produced by E3 Lithium
Similar to the Field Pilot Project, further details on the specific operating objectives will be outlined for the Demo Project closer to its operational start.
“The success of the demonstration project will provide critical data and validation to our processes, while enabling our commercial initiatives,” said Chris Doornbos, President and CEO of E3 Lithium. “Completing these milestones and reducing technical risks for the Clearwater Project—and the lithium industry in
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chris Doornbos, President & CEO
E3 Lithium Ltd.
About E3 Lithium
E3 Lithium is a development company with a total of 16.2 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) Measured and Indicated 1 as well as 0.9 million tonnes LCE Inferred mineral resources2 in
1: The Clearwater Project NI 43-101 Pre-Feasibility Study, effective June 20, 2024, is available on the E3 Lithium’s website (https://e3lithium.ca/our-assets/technical-reports/) and SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca).
2: The mineral resource NI 43-101 Technical Report for the North Rocky Property, effective October 27, 2017, identified 0.9 Mt LCE (inferred) and is available on the E3 Lithium’s website (e3lithium.ca/technical-reports) and SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca).
3: The mineral resource NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Estevan Lithium District, effective May 23, 2024, identified 2.5 Mt LCE (inferred) and is available on the E3 Lithium’s website (e3lithium.ca/technical-reports) and SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca).
Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements
This news release includes certain forward-looking statements as well as management’s objectives, strategies, beliefs and intentions or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are frequently identified by such words as “believe”, “may”, “will”, “plan”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “intend”, “project”, “potential”, “possible” and similar words referring to future events and results. Forward-looking statements are based on the current opinions, expectations, estimates and assumptions of management in light of its experience, perception of historical trends, and results of the PFS, but such statements are not guarantees of future performance. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information relating to: the estimated mineral resources and mineral resources at the Clearwater Project; expectations regarding the PFS, including statements regarding the results of the PFS and interpretations thereof; expectations concerning the Clearwater Project, including extraction, production, pretreatment, purification, volume reduction and conversion process and features and the expected outcomes thereof; the expected economic performance of the Clearwater Project, including capital costs, operating costs, water usage, land use and carbon emissions; statements regarding the Company’s strategy for minimizing environmental impact and liquid waste and maximizing water reuse, with no planned tailings or waste piles; the potential for a secondary revenue stream should the Company be able to sell the calcium carbonate generated during the production of lithium hydroxide; plans and objectives of management for the Company’s operations and the Clearwater Project; and the inherent hazards associated with mineral exploration and mining operations. In preparing the forward-looking information in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, that any additional financing needed will be available on reasonable terms; the exchange rates for the
All forward-looking information (including future-orientated financial information) is inherently uncertain and subject to a variety of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, fluctuating commodity prices, the effectiveness and feasibility of emerging lithium extraction technologies which have not yet been tested or proven on a commercial scale or on the Company’s brine, risks related to the availability of financing on commercially reasonable terms and the expected use of proceeds; operations and contractual obligations; changes in estimated mineral reserves or mineral resources; future prices of lithium and other metals; availability of third party contractors; availability of equipment; failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry; the Company’s lack of operating revenues; currency fluctuations; risks related to dependence on key personnel; estimates used in financial statements proving to be incorrect; competitive risks and the availability of financing, as described in more detail in our recent securities filings available under the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and we caution against placing undue reliance thereon. We assume no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241031429402/en/
E3 Lithium - Investor Relations
Alexis de la Renaudiere
Investor Relations
investor@e3lithium.ca
587-324-2775
Source: E3 Lithium Ltd.
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