Sask. critical minerals: Sask. produces first kilogram of lithium, highlights minerals strategy [Video]

Saskatchewan has produced its first kilogram of lithium. An essential mineral for battery production, the historic occasion was marked at a test facility in Emerald Park.

Prairie Lithium CEO Zach Maurer was on hand to show off the impressive accomplishment.

“We produce a lot of lithium concentrate and that concentrate was used to produce this battery grade lithium carbonate,” he explained.

The lithium was extracted from brine drilled from deep below the surface near Torquay in the Estevan region.

“This is where we bring our samples to analyse it to see lithium concentration, purity concentration,” he added.

It was perhaps an event equal in significance to the production of Saskatchewan’s first barrel of oil about 80 years ago.

Lithium will be a key component in batteries that power the transportation industry of the future.

“So we are producing the lithium carbonate. I think you’ll see battery cell plants popping up …