Lithium miner Snow Lake Resources Ltd hosted LG Energy Solution (LGES20) in Manitoba, Canada in September to explore the potential next step towards building a domestic supply chain for the North American electric vehicle market. 



The visit by LG Energy Solution advances a collaboration with Nasdaq-listed Snow Lake Lithium that would see the delivery of one of Canada’s first lithium hydroxide processing plants in CentrePort, Southern Manitoba. Manitoba Hydro – a hydroelectric power provider in Manitoba – was also included in the discussions regarding the provision of sustainable, clean power to the plant in addition to a site visit to the proposed facility in CentrePort. 

Meetings held at the Manitoba Legislative Building included participation from Snow Lake Lithium and LGES representatives, as well as Jordan Gaw and Jenny Kang from Invest in Canada and Cliff Cullen, the Deputy Premier and Minister of Economic Development, Industry and Trade. Representatives from the Economic Secretariat of Manitoba, the Department of Economic Development, Industry and Trade, and Manitoba’s Chamber of Commerce were also present.

Developing critical minerals to drive decarbonisation

“Companies such as LG Energy Solution and Snow Lake Lithium are leading the exploration and development of critical minerals that will be key to helping the world pursue the goal of decarbonisation,” commented Manitoba’s Deputy Premier, Cliff Cullen, further adding: “Manitoba has the mineral, energy and human resources needed to help meet growing global demand, and we are very excited that LG Energy Solution and Snow Lake Lithium have recognised the potential of Manitoba as a great place to invest. Our government is committed to ensuring that Manitoba is a great place to invest and grow the industries that will lead the energy transition that is transforming the world.” 

Philip Gross, CEO of Snow Lake Lithium, remarked that the visit was a great success and served to confirm the exceptional opportunity in Manitoba to establish a strong domestic supply chain for the US automobile industry. “Following our exciting collaboration with world-leading LG Energy Solution, we are confident that our rock to road battery supply chain will help the electric vehicle market in North America.” 

Canada – a global mining powerhouse

With its rich minerals and metals sector ecosystem, Canada is globally recognised as a world-leader in the mining industry. Its commitment to producing minerals in the right way – both in terms of protecting the environment and ensuring that local indigenous communities benefit – is unparalleled.

Canada is a natural location for investment in critical minerals that are essential to renewable energy, clean technology and advanced manufacturing supply chains. Canada is the only country in the Western Hemisphere that has all the critical minerals required for EV batteries, including lithium.

 

By 2025, Canada is expected to rank third in the global production of the raw materials needed for electric vehicle batteries. 

The rich mining heritage of Snow Lake and Manitoba

Based in Manitoba, Canada, Snow Lake Lithium is developing the world’s first all-electric lithium mine to enable domestic supply of this critical resource to the North American electric vehicle industry. 

Snow Lake Lithium is ideally located to serve the North American automotive industry with access to the US rail network via the Artic Gateway railway, which reduces transportation from thousands of miles by road and boat to just several hundred miles by train. 

The Manitoba region has a rich history of mining, giving Snow Lake Lithium access to some of the most talented and experienced miners in North America. 

Snow Lake Lithium’s 55,000-acre site is expected to produce 160,000 tonnes of six-per-cent lithium spodumene per annum over a 10-year period – enough to power five million electric vehicles.

Aim to become world’s first B-Corp certified lithium mine

Currently, Snow Lake Lithium has explored approximately one per cent of its site and is confident that further exploration will increase estimates over the course of the next year. Snow Lake Lithium’s planned mine will be operated by almost 100-per-cent renewable, hydroelectric power to ensure the most sustainable lithium manufacturing approach. Indeed, the company aims to become the world’s first lithium mine to achieve certified B-Corporation status. 

Over the coming months, Snow Lake Lithium will continue its engineering evaluation and drilling programme across its site, with the expectation that mining operations will transition to commercial production targeted for 2025.