The company has increased the indicated resource producible per year by 120% to 17,000tpa LCE, up from 7,700tpa previously.
The initial phase will involve production from pad #1, utilizing a commercial-scale direct lithium extraction (DLE) unit with a capacity of 150 tonnes per annum (tpa) of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE). The Prairie project, located in the mining-friendly Williston Basin, benefits from access to critical infrastructure, including electricity, natural gas, fresh water, highways, and railroads, supporting efficient operations.
Saskatchewan’s Energy and Resources Minister, Colleen Young, commented on the achievement: “The Prairie lithium project in south-east Saskatchewan has been leading the charge in lithium resource and process developments and we are pleased to see the Prairie lithium project reach this milestone in its approval for initial production.” The project’s progress highlights Saskatchewan’s growing role in the global lithium market.
Following a 2024 drilling and completion program, Arizona Lithium updated its well network model, boosting the project’s indicated resource producible per year by 120% to 17,000 tpa LCE, up from 7,700 tpa LCE. Paul Lloyd, managing director of Arizona Lithium, emphasized the significance of the approval: “These approvals are another massive milestone in project development. The regulatory framework in Saskatchewan provides project developers with a clear permitting path and ability for projects to establish operations.”
Saskatchewan’s Minister of Trade and Export Development, Warren Kaeding, highlighted the broader impact: “Global demand for lithium has risen significantly over the past five years and is expected to continue to increase well into the future. Saskatchewan has the resources the world needs and can sustainably meet this demand.” He noted that such investments strengthen the province’s economy by creating jobs and supporting global energy needs.
In August 2024, Arizona Lithium successfully produced battery-grade lithium carbonate at the Prairie project, independently verified by Saltworks, further validating the project’s technical capabilities.
