Lithium Industry Powering Up In Western Canada

As the energy transition picks up speed, strategic minerals are increasingly in demand. Lithium is one such mineral – a "critical mineral" on Canada's Critical Minerals List.

Lithium is the lightest metallic element on earth, and an essential component of batteries for existing and emerging products and technologies.

Depending on the relevant geology, lithium may be either traditionally mined (e.g., hard rock mining) or extracted from brine, either from salt lakes or underground formation water. There are current and potential lithium hard rock exploration and mining opportunities in Manitoba and British Columbia. In addition, a significant potential source of lithium in Western Canada is from brine from underground formation water in northeast British Columbia, central Alberta, southern Saskatchewan and southwest Manitoba, including from active and abandoned oil and gas wells, and geothermal and other formations.