March 2, 2026
EMP Metals Corp., Saltworks Technologies’ project partner on Project Aurora, has been awarded $1 million in funding from the Government of British Columbia’s Integrated Marketplace (IM) program, delivered by Innovate BC, as part of its recently announced Mining & Critical Minerals Testbed. The IM-supported project will demonstrate next-generation lithium refining technology as part of Project Aurora.
EMP Metals Corp. is the project proponent under the IM framework, with Saltworks Technologies participating in the project as the British Columbia–based technology innovator and Solutions Provider. Saltworks is completing the design and fabrication of the groundbreaking technology in BC, which will be dispatched to EMP Metal’s live lithium well in Saskatchewan.
Saltworks was pleased to host the Honourable Minister Ravi Kahlon and representatives from the British Columbia government at its Richmond headquarters on Friday, February 27, where the funding announcement for EMP Metals and Project Aurora was formally made. The visit included a tour of Saltworks’ innovation and production facilities, where the Project Aurora lithium refining system is currently being built and commissioned.
The IM project scope includes the design, fabrication, and operation of a Generation-II lithium refining demonstration system, along with testing, performance data generation, and market assessment. The project is positioned within the newly announced mining and critical minerals testbed, intended to validate advanced processing technologies under real operating conditions and support pathways toward commercial deployment.
“We thank the Minister and Integrated Marketplace for recognizing the role Project Aurora can play in positioning Canada as a global leader in competitive and sustainable lithium chemicals production. By supporting the commercialization of lithium refining technology, IM is also strengthening the clean technology innovation and manufacturing capabilities of British Columbia–based companies like Saltworks,” said Ben Sparrow, CEO, Saltworks Technologies.
“Support from Innovate BC’s Integrated Marketplace program provides significant validation and financial assistance as EMP Metals accelerates the development of our lithium brine resource. This grant strengthens EMP Metals’ ability to advance a made-in-Canada solution that is unlocking the potential of our lithium brine resources. Our partnership with Saltworks Technologies and our Project Aurora is moving our Saskatchewan lithium project to commercial readiness, and ultimately enhancing domestic critical-minerals capacity, reducing environmental impacts, and helping position Canada as a leader in the clean-energy supply chain,” said EMP Metals CEO, Karl Kottmeier.
“Look West, our economic plan is focused on expanding our critical minerals sector and creating increased supply chain opportunities,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth. “Through the Integrated Marketplace, we’re helping B.C. companies like Saltworks prove that made-in-B.C. technologies are competitive on the world stage. Project Aurora is helping BC build critical capacities that we can leverage and export, which will help grow our economy, create good jobs, and help build a cleaner, more secure supply chain for everyone.”
“B.C. is home to an exciting and growing community of forward-thinking companies developing the next generation of mining technology. Through the Integrated Marketplace’s new Mining and Critical Minerals Testbed, we’re able to reduce risk for organizations like EMP Metals to adopt innovative solutions, while supporting innovators like Saltwork Technologies to deploy solutions in real operational environments and position them to scale – ultimately growing, transforming and strengthening the province’s mining sector,” said Sheila Schindel, Managing Director, Commercialization & IP Programs.
Saltworks’ technology, once deployed, will demonstrate the company’s end-to-end Generation-II lithium refining technology, which offers lower costs, higher purity, and higher recovery than conventional technologies.
Saltworks sincerely thanks EMP Metals and B.C.’s Integrated Marketplace delivered by Innovate BC for its support of Project Aurora and the opportunity to demonstrate a fully integrated brine-to-battery chemicals lithium refining solution.
Saltworks Technologies is a leader in the development and delivery of solutions for industrial wastewater treatment and lithium refining. By working with customers to understand their unique challenges and focusing on continuous innovation, Saltworks’ solutions provide best-in-class performance and reliability. From its headquarters in Richmond, BC, Canada, Saltworks’ team designs, builds, and operates full-scale plants, and offers comprehensive onsite and offsite testing services with its fleet of mobile pilots.
Saltworks introduces its second-generation Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology, featuring a unique double-DLE process that delivers 90% eluate purity and cuts capital costs by over 25%. Built on a patented design using alumina adsorbents and pressurized membranes, the system has undergone extensive trials and optimization.
Saltworks Technologies is proud to announce the kickoff of Project Aurora alongside EMP Metals Corp. Project Aurora is an integrated effort to increase the competitiveness of a lithium brine-to-battery chemicals supply chain in Canada.
Saltworks Technologies is pleased to announce the successful completion of a joint pilot program with EMP Metals Corp. (EMP) and Koch Technology Solutions (KTS) at EMP’s Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) Field Pilot Facility in Saskatchewan.
Saltworks brings water mining expertise and advanced desalination technologies to our lithium clients, offering solutions for concentrating, refining, and converting low-grade lithium sources to battery-grade product. We offer higher purity and lower energy processing technology, that boosts yield, removes unit operations, and reduces cost.