Alberta Invests $5 Million to Lead in Lithium Production
Episode Stats
Words per Minute
158.21004
Summary
Learn English with Honourable Minister of Energy and Resource Development, Rachel Notley. In this episode, Rachel talks about the importance of lithium, and how Alberta is stepping up to the plate to meet the growing demand for the critical mineral used to power an ever-growing list of electronics.
Transcript
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For nearly a century, our energy sector has been one of creativity, ingenuity, and resilience.
00:00:06.980
From the early days of oil exploration to providing the safe, affordable, reliable energy and products that the world needs today,
00:00:16.420
the people in this industry, the people here today, who embody the entrepreneurial spirit we are known for,
00:00:23.220
have made us one of the world's true energy superpowers.
00:00:26.940
And for us, the future of energy is not an either-or conversation.
00:00:32.740
We will need oil and gas for generations to come, yet I am also proud to talk about us as an energy leader in hydrogen,
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in geothermal, in renewable energy, and of course, oil and critical minerals.
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Alberta's energy industry has long and proud history of showing the world how to get things done.
00:00:51.680
Now today, we again are talking about adding lithium to that list.
00:00:56.120
Around the world, demand for lithium is soaring as jurisdictions scramble to find more of this critical mineral
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used to power an ever-growing list of electronics that we rely on every single day.
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Of course, I think most people think about lithium.
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But it's also used in smartphones, laptops, alarm systems, pacemakers, and medical equipment.
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The world will need a lot more lithium to meet these demands.
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The mining can be expensive, and if not done properly, it can have significant environmental impacts.
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But as we do in so many areas, Alberta is stepping up to this challenge.
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And that's why we're here today to celebrate Emissions Reduction Alberta, investing $5 million from the industry-funded tier fund
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to help E3 Lithium develop technology that will help continue to turn Alberta into a global lithium leader.
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This visionary company is turning waste that is naturally found in oil and gas industries' wastewater,
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turning it into battery-grade lithium products that can be sold to battery producers and automotive companies,
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E3's technology takes what is typically considered a waste product and turns it into something highly valuable.
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With no need for additional freshwater, it will reduce environmental impacts while saving companies thousands of dollars.
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E3's technology has already been piloted, and it works.
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They just need support fine-tuning and perfecting this process before it's applied at a commercial scale.
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This $5 million investment will help E3 Lithium test this technology right here in Mountain View County.
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And thank you again for members of Council for being with us today, of course, just outside of Olds.
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This will help E3 operate a future full-scale commercial facility that is estimated to begin construction in 2026.
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Again, this funding is delivered through Emissions Reduction Alberta's Partnership Intake Program
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and was chosen largely because of its potential.
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Currently, the world's biggest lithium producers are Australia, Chile, and China, but that can change.
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Our province is blessed with the largest brine reserves in Canada, a workforce that is second to none,
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and, of course, well-documented drill sites that perfectly position us to become a lithium extraction leader.
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So, again, I just want to say thank you so much to the team at E3.
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You are a testament to Alberta's unwavering entrepreneurial spirit.
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We are so proud of the work being done in our energy industry and on critical minerals,
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and this project is proof, once again, that nobody adapts better and faster than Albertans.