Government of Saskatchewan ministries, Crown corporations and organizations are implementing contingency plans to minimize the impacts of postal service disruption.
Les ministères, sociétés d’État et organismes du gouvernement de la Saskatchewan mettent en œuvre des plans d’urgence (en anglais) visant à réduire les répercussions de l’interruption du service des postes.
Google Translate Disclaimer
A number of pages on the Government of Saskatchewan's website have been professionally translated in French. These translations are identified by a yellow box in the right or left rail that resembles the link below. The home page for French-language content on this site can be found at:
Where an official translation is not available, Google™ Translate can be used. Google™ Translate is a free online language translation service that can translate text and web pages into different languages. Translations are made available to increase access to Government of Saskatchewan content for populations whose first language is not English.
Software-based translations do not approach the fluency of a native speaker or possess the skill of a professional translator. The translation should not be considered exact, and may include incorrect or offensive language. The Government of Saskatchewan does not warrant the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of any information translated by this system. Some files or items cannot be translated, including graphs, photos and other file formats such as portable document formats (PDFs).
Any person or entities that rely on information obtained from the system does so at his or her own risk. Government of Saskatchewan is not responsible for any damage or issues that may possibly result from using translated website content. If you have any questions about Google™ Translate, please visit: Google™ Translate FAQs.
Released on June 3, 2020
Lithium exploration and development are coming to Saskatchewan, thanks to a new joint lithium project undertaken by Prairie Lithium Corp. (Prairie) and LiEP Energy Ltd. (LiEP).
The two companies started the Prairie-LiEP Critical Mineral (PLCM) Joint Venture, a two-stage pilot project that will produce lithium hydroxide from Saskatchewan oilfield brines. The first stage is expected to begin this July, based in Regina, and the second stage is planned for the second half of 2021, with field operations in southern Saskatchewan.
“This is another exciting development that promotes economic diversification in Saskatchewan,” Energy and Resources Minister Bronwyn Eyre said. “Lithium has great potential, due to increasing world-wide demand, which is why supporting extraction technologies and a viable lithium sector are included in Saskatchewan’s Growth Plan.”
“The lithium industry has the potential to be another significant economic driver and help our province through economic recovery,” Trade and Export Development Minister Jeremy Harrison said. “We are pleased to welcome this new project to our province and look forward to the future opportunities it will bring for our residents.”
The PLCM Joint Venture project has been conditionally approved by the Ministry of Energy and Resources under the Saskatchewan Petroleum Innovation Incentive (SPII). The project will be eligible to earn transferrable royalty credits worth 25 per cent of eligible capital and operating expenditures.
The SPII program targets a broad range of innovations deployed across all areas of Saskatchewan’s oil and gas industry, including for lithium. The program is open to pilot projects and commercial scaling projects, providing applicants the opportunity to test their innovations in a pilot setting, then deploy them on a larger commercial scale.
“PLCM Joint Venture is excited to begin stage one of the pilot operation in Saskatchewan this summer,” Prairie and LiEP’s President and CEO Zach Maurer and CEO Haafiz Hasham said. “The province has been great to work with and is committed to diversifying the economy through innovation. We believe that Saskatchewan has the potential to be a global player in the production and chemical processing of lithium, and both companies are thrilled to be working toward proving that potential.”
Stage one of the project will produce 1 to 1.75 kilograms (kg) of lithium hydroxide per day. Stage two will include the construction of one of Canada’s first lithium extraction and refining facilities, which will produce approximately one tonne of lithium hydroxide per day, resulting in 365 tonnes per year. This will serve as a demonstration plant prior to full commercialization. The entire process from raw brine to refined lithium product is anticipated to take under six hours, which is a vast improvement on the current industry standard of 18 months.
The global demand for lithium is forecasted to grow by ten per cent, per year, between 2019 and 2024 due to the expanding use of rechargeable lithium ion batteries in electric cars and portable electronic devices. Lithium is identified as a critical mineral in the Canada-US Joint Action Plan on Critical Minerals Collaboration, as it has important applications in other advanced and clean technologies.
Batteries represent up to 45 per cent of the lithium market, but it is also used to produce glass and ceramics (up to 30 per cent) or greases and lubricants (up to 10 per cent). Both parties are working with the Government of Saskatchewan and will ensure that necessary environmental processes and other needed permits are completed through to commercialization.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Ashley Schoff
Energy and Resources
Regina
Phone: 306-787-5582
Email: ashley.schoff2@gov.sk.ca
We need your feedback to improve saskatchewan.ca. Help us improve
