EMP Metals Resumes Brackish Water Well Testing for Lithium Extraction

Event summary

  • EMP Metals has commenced re-entry operations on brackish water well 5-23-7-9W2, following prior attempts in late January 2026.
  • The work program involves wellbore isolation, perforation, and water sampling to establish fluid levels, expected to take approximately 10 days.
  • The well is located near the Project Aurora Demonstration Plant, intended to optimize a modular lithium extraction and refining model.
  • Project Aurora is a joint initiative between EMP Metals and Saltworks Technologies, aiming for a 3,000+ tonne per year commercial refinery.
  • EMP Metals holds over 205,000 net acres (83,000 hectares) of subsurface dispositions and wellbores in Southern Saskatchewan.

The big picture

EMP Metals' focus on direct lithium extraction from brackish water resources represents a potential cost advantage compared to traditional hard-rock mining or lithium brine evaporation. Securing reliable, low-salinity water sources is a critical bottleneck in scaling up DLE operations, and this well re-entry represents a targeted effort to address that challenge. The partnership with Saltworks Technologies aims to accelerate commercialization and de-risk future investments in a rapidly expanding lithium market.

What we're watching

Resource Validation
The success of the well testing will be critical in validating the viability of this brackish water source for lithium extraction, and its integration into Project Aurora.
Operational Execution
The 10-day timeframe for re-entry and testing is tight; delays could impact the Project Aurora timeline and associated cost estimates.
Partnership Dynamics
The collaborative relationship with Saltworks Technologies will be key to the success of Project Aurora, and any disagreements regarding plant design or cost estimates could create friction.

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