Name of the Project
Prairie lithium project.

Location
Williston basin of Saskatchewan, Canada.

Project Owner/s
Prairie Lithium, formerly Arizona Lithium.

Project Description
Prairie holds a resource of 6.3-million tonnes comprising 4.5-million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent in the indicated category and 1.8-million tonnes in the inferred category.

A prefeasibility study (PFS) has reported initial production of 6 000 t/y, consisting of three inaugural well pads, each producing 2 000 t/y of lithium carbonate equivalent over a 20-year mine life.

The robust PFS economics for Phase 1 can be replicated, and additional modules will increase production to between 20 000 t/y and 25 000 t/y in Phase 2, and multiples thereof in Phase 3.

The Prairie project uses conventional oil and gas drilling and completion methods to access lithium-rich brine from aquifers about 2.3 km underground. 

Through direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology, the company will separate lithium from the brine. The extracted lithium concentrate will be converted on site to an upgraded high-purity material. The remaining lithium-depleted brine will be disposed of back underground into a different aquifer. The DLE process uses less land and fresh water while generating less waste, in comparison to hard-rock and evaporation mining.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
In the base case, the project has a pretax net present value, at an 8% discount rate, of $448-million and an internal rate of return of 23.9%, with a payback of 2.2 years.

Capital Expenditure
Phase 1 – $290-million, including contingency. The total installed cost for each additional well-pad is estimated at $70-million.

Planned Start/End Date
Not confirmed.

Latest Developments
Prairie Lithium has started vertical construction at its Pad #1 commercial facility, following the completion of foundation works.

Piles and grade beams for the plant foundation have been installed, allowing for building construction to proceed as it progresses to monetise its 4.6-million-tonne lithium carbonate equivalent resource.

Prairie Lithium has selected a prefabricated steel building system for the facility, allowing for wall panels to be manufactured in a controlled factory environment. Power and foundation works were conducted on site earlier this year. The parallel construction approach is expected to shorten the overall build schedule, reduce weather-related risks and allow for faster future expansion.

2026 is expected to be transformational for the company, with the planned delivery of the largest commercial-scale Li-Pro direct lithium extraction equipment built to date. Once completed, the project is expected to become the first fully permitted lithium brine production operation within an established oilfield.

Prairie Lithium aims to produce lithium from brine sourced from an existing oilfield, an approach it believes could reshape the rapidly evolving lithium market.

MD Paul Lloyd has said the transition to full building construction has marked a key step towards commercial production.

He has indicated that selecting a prefabricated structural panel system has enabled the company to manufacture complete load-bearing wall assemblies off site, while foundation and power works have progressed at the project.

“This parallel workstream significantly compresses construction timelines, reduces weather-related risk, and provides a scalable, repeatable ‘cookie-cutter’ model that supports rapid future expansion,” he has said.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Samuel Engineering (lead consultant for the PFS).

Contact Details for Project Information
Prairie Lithium, tel +61 8 6313 3936 or email info@prairielithium.com.