Drilling commercial production wells near Torquay
Arizona Lithium, now Prairie Lithium, spudded its first commercial production well near Torquay, Saskatchewan in late May 2024, committing over CAD $14.8 million to a drilling program targeting at least six wells across three pads. Each pad is designed to support approximately 2,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate production annually. The first well tests the Souris River Formation before conversion to a Duperow Formation production well, with the second well testing Dawson Bay and Madison Group disposal targets.
Executive director Zach Maurer, who founded Prairie Lithium in 2019 before its March 2023 acquisition by the Perth-based company, called it 'an exciting and busy time for our project', noting lithium's potential role in the local economy. Testing has found lithium concentrations up to 172 milligrams per litre in the Duperow Formation. Combined with the $70.6 million acquisition, total project investment exceeds $85 million, with initial commercial production targeted for 2025.