Projects
The Duperow Formation in Southeast Saskatchewan is one of North America’s most promising lithium brine systems. Spanning regionally extensive reservoirs, it consistently demonstrates higher lithium concentrations than the Leduc Formation in Alberta — creating a strong competitive advantage for economic development.
EMP Metals’ drilling and flow testing has recorded concentrations of up to 259 mg/L, with project-wide averages around 125 mg/L. These values place EMP among the highest brine concentrations in Canada, underscoring the formation’s potential as a long-life, high-grade resource.
The Duperow Advantage
- Regionally extensive, dolomitized reservoir with aquifer support
- Restricted depositional environment with multiple evaporitic cycles
- Evapo-concentrated Devonian seawater high in lithium concentration
- Significantly higher grades of lithium in Duperow vs. Leduc
- Lower CAPEX and OPEX
- No H2S or residual oil
- Low contaminants (iron, silica, organics)
- Less volume for desired production rates
- Shallow drilling depths (1,800m)
EMP Metals, in partnership with Saltworks Technologies Inc., is executing a staged development plan through Project Aurora — a fully integrated demonstration plant that bridges pilot testing and commercial production. The demonstration plant will be located on the same well pad as the company’s horizontal well (4B-23) and vertical test well (4A-23) in the Viewfield area of Southeast Saskatchewan.
Phase 1 – Demonstration Plant (2026–2027)
- Continuous flow, 10 m³/day hub-and-spoke demo plant.
- Connected to existing EMP wells and surface infrastructure.
- 12–18 months of operations starting Q2 2026.
- Objectives: validate engineering, optimize process flows, and produce high-purity lithium chemicals.
Phase 2: Stage 1 Commercial Plant (2026 – 2029)
- Stage 1 – 3k tpa (2 x 1,500 tpa spokes) commercial lithium carbonate hub and spoke plant
- Detailed engineering and project financing occurring in parallel with demo plant operations
- Upon securing financing, major procurement and construction to start as early as Q1 2027.
- 24-month project build and construction schedule
Phase 3 – Full Basin Rollout (2029+)
- Expansion across the Saskatchewan basin.
- Multiples of 1,500 tpa spokes feeding into 6,000 tpa hubs.
- A scalable, repeatable model leveraging Saltworks’ differentiated modular skid technology.
- Indicated Resource: 931,038 t LCE with a weighted average concentration of 141 mg/L
- Inferred Resource: 488,439 t LCE with weighted average concentration of 107 mg/L
- Net Acres: 64,196 (100.25 sections)
- Inferred Resource: 628,988 t LCE with a weighted average concentration of 116 mg/L
- Net Acres: 38,561 (60.25 sections)
Mansur & Viewfield Combined Lithium in Place (NI 43-101)
Mansur + Viewfield Greater Areas (160.5 sections) Resource Summary
Additional details of the resource estimate are set forth in the news release dated August 12, 2025.
Mansur + Viewfield Project Areas
Pmedian LCE Resource
- 2,048,263 tonnes LCE (net)
Saskatchewan has earned a reputation as a world-class jurisdiction for mining investment, ranking #7 globally and #1 in Canada in the Fraser Institute’s 2024 survey.
Regional Advantages
- Existing roads, rail, power, skilled talent and service businesses thanks to the province’s 50-year oil and gas history.
- Existing technology for subsurface brine deliverability and disposal
- No freshwater usage, 90% water recovery during refining, make up water through reverse osmosis of non-potable brackish water
- Minimal surface environmental impact, no on surface brine ponds or tailings, flat unobstructed farmland
- Long history of engagement with Rural Municipalities and Provincial Government
Together, these advantages make Saskatchewan a leading Canadian brine resource opportunity in the top Canadian mining jurisdiction.