E3 Lithium commissions Phase 1 of its Clearwater Project, advancing DLE and purification systems to produce high-quality lithium chloride successfully.
E3 Lithium Ltd., recognized as a leading force in Canada’s Lithium development sector, has officially begun the commissioning of Phase 1 of its Clearwater Project Demonstration Facility. The company confirmed that operations are progressing on schedule, marking a significant advancement in its efforts to establish large-scale domestic lithium production.
The initial stage of the project, known as Phase 1, focuses on activating and operationalizing the 30-column Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) system alongside polishing and purification units. These two core systems—the DLE system and the purification units—will work together to deliver high-quality lithium chloride, which is a crucial precursor for producing battery-grade Lithium Carbonate. This output will play a vital role in supplying the rapidly expanding Electric Vehicle and energy storage industries.
Final testing and operational checks were successfully completed late last week, clearing the way for live operations to commence. Over the weekend, the first stage of commissioning was executed with the introduction of brine into the DLE system. E3 Lithium estimates that commissioning the DLE system to reach full operational capacity will take roughly one week. Once this system is fully functional, the next step will involve initiating the purification units. At this stage, Lithium Chloride produced by the DLE system will flow through the purification system, thereby completing the commissioning sequence for Phase 1.
When both systems are confirmed to be running under real-time operating conditions, the Demonstration Facility will transition to full operational status. The primary objectives of Phase 1 include verifying that all equipment is assembled and operating correctly, ensuring both systems function seamlessly in practice, and consistently producing lithium chloride of the quality needed for conversion into high-grade lithium carbonate.
E3 Lithium has ensured adequate resources are in place, with sufficient brine stockpiled on site to support the operation of the DLE and purification units well into early Q4 of 2025. The company has also committed to providing regular updates as commissioning continues and results become available.
Chris Doornbos, President and CEO of E3 Lithium, expressed his confidence in the process, stating: “The commissioning of Phase 1 of our Demonstration Facility highlights that the equipment is in full working order and represents an exciting milestone in advancing this facility. The results from Phase 1 will allow us to optimize our process fully and prepare for Phase 2 of the Demonstration Facility, which is set to launch later this fall.”
This step marks a pivotal moment for E3 Lithium as it moves closer toward demonstrating a commercially viable lithium extraction process in Canada.
