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Snow Lake Lithium CEO meets with premier and cabinet members to discuss mining plans

The company recently filed claims on more than 33,000 acres of Crown land that it intends to explore for potential deposits this spring and summer.
scott fielding heather stefanson philip gross cliff cullen jan 25 2022
Snow Lake Lithium CEO Philip, second from right, with Manitoba’s Natural Resources and Northern Development Minister Scott Fielding, left, Premier Heather Stefanson, second from left, and Economic Development Minister Cliff Cullen, right, during  Jan. 25 meeting in Winnipeg.

The CEO of a Northern Manitoba lithium mining company that hopes to capitalize on rising demand for electric vehicles [EVs] and the batteries that power them met with the premier and two cabinet members in January.

Philip Gross of Snow Lake Lithium used the Jan. 25 meeting with Premier Heather Stefanson, Economic Development Minister Cliff Cullen and Natural Resources and Northern Development Minister Scott Fielding to discuss the company’s progress and five-year plan as well as the general outlook for lithium mining in Manitoba.

“As we gear up for lithium mining production, it is mission critical that we work closely with the government to ensure that the best interests of the province are served,” said Gross. “As the world mobilizes to achieve global electrification of the automobile fleet, Manitoba is uniquely positioned to play a pivotal role in the EV supply chain over the course of the next decades. Manitoba is blessed with a green energy source, critical rail infrastructure, an abundance of natural resources and, most importantly, a population and government for whom mining is an integral part of the economy and culture. I would contend that there is nowhere in North America today that is better positioned and more qualified than Manitoba to play this crucial role in improving our planet. We look forward to working closely with and maintaining a continuous dialogue with the municipal, provincial and civil authorities as we progress toward lithium production and beyond."

Snow Lake Lithium raised more than $27 million through an initial public offering of shares in late 2021 and has visions of operating a totally renewable and sustainable lithium mine that “can deliver a completely traceable, carbon neutral and zero harm product to the electric vehicle and battery market.”

"Manitoba has a long and proud history in the mining industry and for the past century this has been a economic driver for the northern region of our province,” said Stefanson. “As the global economies mature and recognize our shared obligation to protect our environment, Manitoba is keen to play an important role in building a greener future. Projects like Snow Lake Lithium represent a new generation of responsible mining that will also translate into significant investment and jobs for the province at a crucial time in our pandemic recovery."

The company predicts that it could be able to produce as much as 160,000 tonnes per year of six per cent lithium concentrate for up to a decade from its claims through underground and open pit mining, all powered by renewable Manitoba Hydro electricity while making use of electric machinery.

In addition to the money raised by its public share offering, Snow Lake Lithium has also received $62,000 from the Manitoba Mineral Development Fund (MMDF) for a drone magnetic survey of its property, only three per cent of which has been explored.

The company recently staked and filed claims on over 33,000 acres of  Crown land in the Snow Lake area and has identified four priority areas to explore this spring and summer using airborne geophysical surveys, soil geochemistry and “boot and hammer” prospecting, according to a Feb. 8 press release.

“Our basic ambition has been to differentiate between ‘moose pasture’ and ‘highly prospective’ areas that we think have a high degree of probability of hosting new discoveries,” said the company’s vice-president of resource development Dale Schultz. “I am excited about the exploration work that lies ahead of us and confident that the expansion of our land holdings along with our further exploration will lead us towards creating a position as a prominent North American fully renewable lithium producer."

Snow Lake Lithium believes it could potentially start mining as early as 2024, by which time global lithium demand is expected to double due to more batteries needed for electric vehicles, which are predicted to top 11 million in annual sales worldwide by then.

“With a footprint that now exceeds 84 square miles in the heart of a historic lithium bearing region, we believe Snow Lake is firmly positioned to expand our resource dramatically and play a critical role in the electrification of the global automobile fleet,” Gross said.

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