Canadian-based critical minerals company E3 Lithium has commissioned Phase 2 of its Clearwater Project Demonstration Facility in Alberta and confirmed lithium concentrations of 75.8 milligrams per liter in brine produced during ongoing reservoir testing.
The company said the latest results support the consistency of lithium-bearing brine chemistry across the Clearwater Project and the broader Bashaw District, a key factor as it advances plans for commercial lithium production.
The demonstration facility is currently being used to test reservoir performance over an extended period. Brine is pumped from a production well and immediately reinjected into a separate injection well, allowing engineers to evaluate flow behavior and reservoir response under operating conditions.
According to the Alberta-based company, the facility achieved stable production and injection through the well pair. During early operations, an electrical submersible pump maintained the targeted flow rate of 1,400 cubic meters per day.
The company regularly collected brine samples during operations and sent them to an independent third-party laboratory for analysis. Results confirmed lithium concentrations of 75.8 mg/L, matching expectations for the resource.
E3 said the reservoir data generated through the testing campaign will be used to update its reservoir development plan and support a feasibility study for the Clearwater Project.
The next stage of operations will focus on analyzing the relationship between brine and natural gas within the reservoir. The information is expected to support the design of the front end of a future commercial processing plant.
The demonstration facility forms part of E3’s broader effort to reduce technical risks before moving toward large-scale lithium production.
“With Phase 2 operations underway, E3 has begun a series of project-scale de-risking activities for the Clearwater Project,” said Chris Doornbos, CEO and chair of E3 Lithium.
The company added that the current campaign has already processed more brine through the two new wells than all of its previous testing programs combined.
Lithium demand continues to grow as automakers and battery manufacturers seek additional supplies of the metal used in electric vehicle batteries and energy storage systems.
For E3, the demonstration facility serves as a bridge between laboratory-scale testing and commercial deployment. Data collected from reservoir operations, brine chemistry studies, and future process testing will be used to refine engineering designs and operating plans.
“We have already moved more brine through these two wells than E3 has handled through all its previous testing combined, and we expect to continue to operate the pump as needed over the coming 24 months,” Doornbos said.
He added that confirmation of reservoir performance and lithium grades at the new wells strengthens confidence in the predictability of the resource.
The company plans to continue operating the demonstration facility while advancing front-end engineering design work and completing a feasibility study for the project. The resulting data will help determine the design of a future commercial facility and support decisions related to full-scale development.
With over a decade-long career in journalism, Neetika Walter has worked with The Economic Times, ANI, and Hindustan Times, covering politics, business, technology, and the clean energy sector. Passionate about contemporary culture, books, poetry, and storytelling, she brings depth and insight to her writing. When she isn’t chasing stories, she’s likely lost in a book or enjoying the company of her dogs.
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