Brine to Battery: Lithium Extraction Nears Scale

A Saskatchewan project pushes direct lithium extraction closer to commercial reality for North American EV supply chains

10 Feb 2026

A quiet stretch of Saskatchewan is becoming a test case for North America’s effort to secure domestic battery materials, as Prairie Lithium advances a large brine-based lithium project using direct lithium extraction, or DLE.

The project aims to extract lithium from saltwater reservoirs deep underground, drawing on techniques long used by the oil and gas industry. Existing wells and subsurface data are being repurposed to access the brine, with lithium separated at the surface before the remaining water is reinjected underground.

Supporters say the approach offers advantages over conventional mining. By avoiding open pits or large evaporation ponds, DLE can reduce land use and limit water loss. In regions accustomed to energy infrastructure, the model is also seen as a way to shorten development timelines by building on what is already in place.

Technology will determine whether those claims hold. Prairie Lithium is working with commercial-scale DLE providers, including systems developed by Koch Technology Solutions, to demonstrate that lithium can be produced consistently at industrial volumes. The focus is on reliability as much as efficiency, as automakers, battery manufacturers and investors look for evidence that DLE can perform beyond pilot projects.

The Saskatchewan development is being closely watched by the industry. If it operates as planned, it could change perceptions of brine-based lithium across North America, where governments are pushing to localise supplies of critical minerals as electric vehicle demand rises.

Challenges remain. DLE is less established than traditional mining, and uncertainties persist around costs, regulatory treatment and long-term performance. Construction is under way, with Prairie Lithium targeting operational readiness by 2026, but sustained output over time will be the key measure of success.

Even so, the project reflects growing momentum behind alternative extraction methods. If Prairie Lithium meets its targets, it could encourage similar developments elsewhere, adding a new dimension to the region’s lithium supply at a time when securing materials for electrification has become a strategic priority.