Foundation works on Pad #1.
Currently, the continent’s largest DLE facility is believed to be operated by Standard Lithium (TSXV: SLI) in Arkansas. In March 2024, the company completed installation and commissioning of its Li-Pro lithium selective sorption (LSS) commercial-scale unit, supplied by Koch Technology Solutions, now part of Aquatech. Prairie Lithium’s upcoming plant will surpass this scale, with four commercial DLE columns scheduled to arrive by April 2026.
According to Prairie Lithium, the successful operation of one commercial-scale DLE column in Arkansas over the past 18 months, together with high-quality brine from its own resource, provides confidence in the technology’s reliability and scalability. The lithium extraction facility at Pad #1 has already entered the construction phase, with the foundation expected to be finished in the first quarter of 2026. Building work will follow, and an application to connect the wells and facility to the grid has been submitted to SaskPower.
Prairie Lithium managing director Paul Lloyd stated: “The construction on our lithium extraction facility at Pad #1 is a strong step forward on our critical path to production. The groundwork we are laying now will host what we believe will be the largest known direct lithium extraction facility in North America.” Lloyd noted that the facility’s size reflects the maturity of the company’s lithium project. Prairie plans to use established oil and gas drilling and completion techniques to access lithium-rich brine from aquifers around 2.3 kilometers underground, and then separate lithium from the brine using DLE technology.
The project covers more than 345,000 acres of subsurface permits in the Duperow Formation. The resource is estimated to contain 4.6 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent in measured and indicated categories. Once operational, the facility is expected to play a significant role in expanding Canada’s position in the growing lithium supply chain, which supports the development of electric vehicles and energy storage systems across North America.
By combining proven extraction methods with advanced lithium separation technology, Prairie Lithium aims to accelerate the commercialization of its resource while supporting the region’s emerging battery materials industry. The company expects the facility’s completion and commissioning to position it as a key participant in the transition to cleaner energy solutions and the expansion of lithium production capacity in North America.
