ASX-listed Prairie Lithium has started construction of its lithium extraction facility at Pad #1 in Saskatchewan.

Foundation work on the facility is expected to be completed by January 2026, after which building construction will begin. The company has also submitted an application to SaskPower to connect the wells and facility to the provincial electricity grid.

Four commercial-scale direct lithium extraction (DLE) columns – said to form the largest known DLE facility in North America – are currently being fabricated and are scheduled to arrive in April 2026.

The facility will build on recent technological progress made by US-based Standard Lithium, which commissioned a commercial-scale unit in Arkansas last year. Prairie Lithium said its project’s high-quality brine, combined with proven DLE performance elsewhere, gave it strong confidence in scalability and future output.

MD Paul Lloyd said the project’s rapid development underscored its maturity and growing global significance.

“The groundwork we are laying now will host what we believe will be the largest known direct lithium extraction facility in North America,” Lloyd said. “This scale, combined with our secure wells and grid power application, highlights the momentum we are building. With fabrication of the four commercial-scale columns well under way, industry interest is escalating rapidly.”

Prairie Lithium said it is engaged in multiple offtake discussions with potential partners in North America and Asia, reflecting strong strategic demand for lithium amid global supply chain diversification efforts.

The project, located in the Williston basin, has been designed with sustainability in mind, targeting reduced freshwater use, minimal land disturbance, and lower waste generation.

Lloyd said these environmental credentials aligned Prairie Lithium with growing global expectations for responsible lithium development. “We are intensely focused on leveraging this momentum to establish a secure, high-quality Canadian lithium supply that supports North America’s clean energy ambitions.”