Lithium mining has emerged as a cornerstone of the green energy revolution, but the methods traditionally used to extract this vital metal often come with a hefty environmental price tag. The mining sector faces a paradox: while lithium is crucial for powering electric vehicles and renewable energy storage, conventional extraction techniques can wreak havoc on ecosystems and contribute significantly to carbon emissions. Hard rock mining, for instance, generates around 15 tonnes of CO2 for every tonne of lithium produced. Meanwhile, evaporation ponds, another common method, require extensive land use and long wait times to extract lithium from brine.
Enter Amanda Hall, the CEO of Calgary-based Summit Nanotech. With an impressive 18-year background in the mining and oil and gas sectors, Hall recognized the pressing need for a more sustainable approach to lithium extraction. “Our technology gets twice as much lithium out of a barrel of brine coming out of the ground than the traditional method,” she asserts. This breakthrough could redefine how the industry approaches lithium sourcing, particularly in regions like South America, which boasts some of the world’s richest lithium deposits.
Summit Nanotech’s innovation lies in its patented “sorbent” technology, which effectively extracts lithium without the need for harmful chemicals. “You run the brine through our column, which is packed full of materials we call ‘sorbent,’” Hall explains. “The lithium is the only thing that sticks to the sorbent—it’s like a sponge with pore spaces that are just the right size for lithium—everything else goes through.” This method not only enhances extraction efficiency but also allows for the reinjection of lithium-depleted brine back underground, minimizing environmental disruption.
In a broader context, Canada is positioning itself as a hotbed for mining innovation. Don Duval, CEO of NORCAT, highlights that the country is experiencing an unprecedented surge in investment in mining technology. NORCAT’s Underground Mine Centre in Sudbury serves as a crucial platform for tech companies to develop and test their innovations in a real-world mining environment. “Technology companies—big, small, domestic, international—can use the Underground Mine Centre to develop and test new technologies,” Duval notes. This incubator model helps bridge the gap between innovation and large-scale adoption, allowing mining companies to witness new technologies in action before committing to them.
The advancements don’t stop at lithium extraction. The mining sector is evolving through the integration of remote sensing, electric industrial vehicles, and autonomous systems. Drones are increasingly utilized for remote inspections and mapping, while autonomous vehicles are already operating underground, performing tasks without human operators. This shift toward automation and enhanced efficiency is not just a trend; it’s a necessary evolution for an industry under pressure to reduce its environmental footprint.
As Chamirai Nyabeze, vice president of business development at the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI), points out, Canada’s mining sector is uniquely positioned to lead the charge in sustainable practices. “Canada is well positioned to be a global leader in advancing the innovations that allow the mining industry to be more efficient, greener, and cleaner,” he asserts. This is particularly significant as the world races to produce sustainable technologies, like electric vehicles, that rely on responsibly sourced materials.
The stakes are high. If the mining industry continues to rely on outdated, polluting methods, the promise of a clean energy future could be undermined. As Hall and her contemporaries push the envelope on sustainable extraction methods, it’s clear that the future of mining is not just about digging deeper but also about digging smarter and cleaner. The innovations emerging from Canada could very well set the standard for how the global mining industry tackles its environmental challenges, leading to a more sustainable future for all.
