E3 Lithium has announced the arrival of key equipment at the Clearwater project in Alberta, Canada, in a significant milestone in the development of the company's demonstration facility.
Essential for the 30-column direct lithium extraction (DLE) system, the equipment will support two phases of the planned testing.
The equipment comprises five separate skids, designed to operate fully automated when tied together.
Over the coming weeks, the assembly and testing of the equipment will take place on-site to ensure its integrity post-transport.
The commissioning process will include leak testing and electrical inspections before initiating the processing of raw brine.
The demonstration facility is scheduled to commence operations in three phases, starting in the latter half of 2025 and continuing into 2026.
Phase one of the demonstration programme will culminate in the production of lithium carbonate, utilising surface-available brine.
E3 Lithium president and CEO Chris Doornbos stated: “The arrival of the equipment officially kicks off our demonstration programme and is a key milestone towards commercial lithium production.
“With only a few systems of this kind operating, we appreciate each of our vendors and engineering firms for their ongoing support. The E3 Lithium team is excited to get the equipment operating and we look forward to providing additional updates on the demonstration facility as we progress towards commissioning Phase 1.”
Each stage of the demonstration facility is a key milestone in validating the process technology and E3 Lithium’s capacity to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate at scale.
E3 Lithium has secured a financial boost from the Canadian government's Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund (CMIF).
The fund has provided C$4.4m ($3m) in non-repayable support for pre-construction activities at the Clearwater project: the development of energy infrastructure, transportation facilities and engagement initiatives that are integral to the project's demonstration facility and feasibility study.
