PMET Resources Inc. is making significant strides in the lithium industry by exploring the potential to process spodumene concentrate into higher-value lithium chemical products directly at its Shaakichiuwaanaan project site in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Québec, Canada. This initiative aligns with Canada’s and Québec’s objectives for domestic processing of critical minerals and could offer further opportunities to reduce logistics intensity over time.
On June 14, 2026, PMET Resources announced the completion of a concept study evaluating the future potential to process spodumene concentrate into a value-added lithium product directly at the Shaakichiuwaanaan site. The study identified Primero’s proprietary ALi® atmospheric leach process as the preferred value-added pathway for further study due to its
Evaluating Processing Flowsheet Options
The concept study involved a structured review of seven processing flowsheet options to produce a value-added lithium product. Primero’s ALi® process stood out due to its alignment with the company’s sustainability objectives and its potential to minimize the project’s environmental footprint. Bench scale testwork on Shaakichiuwaanaan spodumene concentrate samples, conducted by Primero in Perth, Western Australia, produced a 99.8% Li₂CO₃ battery-grade lithium carbonate.
If combined with the use of electric calcination through Québec’s low-cost renewable energy, on-site value-added processing has the potential to reduce carbon intensity and improve efficiencies within the battery materials Supply Chain. This initiative supports Québec and Canada’s objectives for domestic, value-added processing, consistent with their respective Critical Minerals Strategies.
The Potential for a Redefined Supply Chain
The Shaakichiuwaanaan project has the potential to support an improved and more efficient lithium chemicals supply chain model. By leveraging Québec’s abundant low-cost renewable hydroelectric power and strategic location within North America, the project aims to redefine the lithium value chain model. Producing a more concentrated, value-added lithia product on-site is expected to provide several benefits, including:
- Redefining the lithium value chain model by locating electric calcination and some or all of the chemical conversion at the mine site.
- Leveraging Québec’s renewable and low-cost hydroelectric power to support a lower-carbon lithium chemical supply chain.
- Creating a western-facing lithium chemical supply chain, supporting western mineral sovereignty.
- Enhancing project value through the transformation of spodumene into a higher lithia content product.
The next phase of work will focus on advancing the ALi® process towards a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) level of detail. This includes additional testwork to support flowsheet design, environmental testwork for residue characterization, and a detailed logistics study. The inclusion of electric calcination equipment is expected to harness Québec’s renewable, low-cost hydro-electric power, lowering operating costs and further reducing the project’s carbon footprint.
Frederic Mercier-Langevin, Chief Operations/Development Officer for PMET Resources, commented, “Shaakichiuwaanaan is already a Tier-1 asset under our 2026 Feasibility Study, and this concept study potentially identifies a credible pathway to capture additional value on top of it. Converting spodumene concentrate to a value-added and potentially battery-grade lithium chemical on-site could deliver a lower-cost, lower-carbon flowsheet powered by Québec hydroelectricity.”
Ken Brinsden, President, CEO & Managing Director of PMET Resources, added, “For decades the industry has mined hard-rock lithium in one place and refined it in another, often overseas, which is hardly the most efficient supply chain solution. The work we’re reporting today points to the potential for a redefinition of the supply chain. It could be a credible alternate pathway, demonstrated at bench scale with our spodumene concentrates, to refine battery-grade lithium at the mine gate in a stable Western, low-carbon supply chain.”
