Made from Lithium as raw material are energy-dense rechargeable batteries. These batteries are used in laptops, cell phones, electric vehicles etc.
Lithium is also a raw material used in glass production to increase glass durability, glass corrosion resistance, and glass thermal resistance.
Other items made from lithium as one of the raw materials include: glass-ceramic stovetops, glass containers, specialty glass, and fiberglass.
There is a greater reliance on both new and recycled sources of lithium for batteries.
Lithium has been classified as critical mineral raw material and it has net-zero emissions.
There are 31 commodities on Canada’s critical mineral list and Saskatchewan has occurrences of 23 of the 31. It is worthy of note to say that lithium is on that list as a Canadian Critical mineral considered as essential raw material for the sustainable economic success of Canada.
We got reliable information that the Government of Saskatchewan has expanded both its Oil and Gas Processing Investment Incentive (OGPII) and its Saskatchewan Petroleum Innovation Incentive (SPII) programs to include lithium extraction from subsurface brine as existing incentives expanded for lithium projects.
These incentives position the province of Saskatchewan as one of the best locations in the world for Lithium resource development and in clear view is the opportunity for growth and innovation in the sector in Saskatchewan.
The Canadian Centre for Raw Materials Inc. (CACERMDI) learnt that Saskatchewan Geological Survey with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources has already confirmed the presence of lithium in some Saskatchewan aquifers from their brine sampling program, which began in 2011
(https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2022/november/07/strengthening-saskatchewans-lithium-industry)
CACERMDI further learnt that two companies named Prairie Lithium and Grounded Lithium are currently drilling for lithium in the province of Saskatchewan.
Prairie Lithium since 2020 uses proprietary technology to extract lithium from subsurface brine water and drilled their own well dedicated to lithium extraction in the fall off 2021 whereas Grounded Lithium commenced drilling its first lithium focused well in the summer of 2022.
Reacting to the incentives, Zach Maurer who is Prairie Lithium Chief Executive Officer (CEO), acknowledged the fact that the Saskatchewan Governmental incentives would further help all parties in the lithium industry.
Also, Gregg Smith, the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Grounded Lithium said. “The geology of Saskatchewan chose us as the right place to pursue our lithium-from-brine project, and Saskatchewan stands out as a favourable jurisdiction for lithium resource development. We foresee significant growth over the next five years with drilling and facility development accompanied by the associated benefits of impactful job growth and royalty revenues.”
CACERMDI is aware that there are many more Lithium companies in Saskatchewan that have acquired subsurface mineral tenure to explore for lithium but are not yet to begin drilling
