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EMP Metals finishes demo plant connected to brine wells in Saskatchewan
Project Aurora is now directly tied into Viewfield production and waste brine disposal wells, with commissioning about halfway complete ahead of a Q3 start-up.
Saskatchewan lithium brine developer EMP Metals has completed its demonstration plant at its Viewfield project, a milestone aimed at moving the operation from construction into commissioning. The Project Aurora demonstration facility is now connected to the production and waste brine disposal wells, a level of integration EMP said is uncommon among Canadian lithium brine projects.
EMP said commissioning is approximately halfway complete and that it remains on schedule for a Q3 start-up, supported by fresh production brine flowing through the process as systems are integrated. The site is about 140 km southeast of Regina.
EMP positioned the completion of Project Aurora as a major step in its transition to operating the facility, saying it has reached one of the final technical milestones before commercial development.
Shares in Toronto rose 5% to C$0.51 on Wednesday morning, valuing the company at C$63.3 million. EMP also cited prior resource and project estimates for Viewfield, including an annual production target of 12,175 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent over a 23-year life and a post-tax net present value of about $1 billion discounted at 8%.