E3 Lithium Initiates Permitting Process for the Clearwater Project Central Processing Facility with Submission of EPEA Application Submission of the EPEA application and initiation of the Directive 056 facility notification and consultation
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E3 Lithium Initiates Permitting Process for the Clearwater Project Central
Processing Facility with Submission of EPEA Application
Submission of the EPEA application and initiation of the Directive 056 facility notification and consultation
program kick off the permitting process for the Clearwater Project Central Processing Facility
CALGARY, ALBERTA, December 8, 2025 – E3 LITHIUM LTD. (TSXV: ETL) (FSE: OW3) (OTCQX: EEMMF), “E3”,
“E3 Lithium” or the “Company,” a leader in Canadian lithium development, has submitted its Environmental
Protection and Enhancement Act (“EPEA”) application to the Alberta Energy Regulator (“AER”) and has initiated
the formal AER Directive 056 (“D56”) notification and consultation program for its Clearwater Project Central
Processing Facility (“CPF”).
The EPEA application represents a significant step forward in advancing E3 Lithium’s commercialization plans
for lithium production in Alberta. EPEA is a provincially mandated submission common for facilities of this
nature in Alberta. T he EPEA application describes the Clearwater Project, its main process operat ions, and
outlines the environmental management plans and mitigation strategies that will be deployed by E3 to ensure
that its Clearwater lithium extraction and processing facility is operated safely and responsibly.
The first step in the D56 application process is the formal consultation and notification of stakeholders in the
area surrounding the CPF prior to the formal permit application to the AER, which is separate from the EPEA
application that has been submitted by E3. The consultation and notification process began in late November
and E3 anticipates submitting the D56 facility application for the CPF in early 2026. An approved D56 license
for the CPF will provide the required provincial government authority to construct and operate the CPF. When
approved, the application ensures that the CPF meets Alberta’s safety, environmental, and land-use standards
and that E3 Lithium has completed meaningful engagement with stakeholders.
The Permitting Process for the Lithium Production Facility
In Alberta, brine hosted minerals are regulated through the AER , which determines the overall process and
outlines, through Directives, the application-specific licenses required to build and operate. The CPF, which
will host the lithium production equipment, requires both approval under D56 and EPEA, which are separate
applications.
The production of the brine through wells and pipelines is also governed under D56, with specific sections for
these types of application. Each well and pipeline will be subject to individual approvals after consultation with
landowners, similar to the current consultation process for the CPF. The full production and reinjection of brine
is then governed through a reservoir scheme application under AER Directive 065 . E3 will be conducting
consultation for the wells and pipe lines through 2026 for the first phase of development. Additional permits
for power facilities are also underway and the Project will need a municipal development permit issued by the
county. Additional information on permit application process can be found on the AER website at www.aer.ca.
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“The Mineral Resource Development Act, passed in late 2021, provided a regulatory framework to the AER for
lithium in brine, with E3 Lithium being the first company to receive a facility license under this framework for
its Demonstration Facility ,” said Chris Doornbos, President and CEO of E3 Lithium. “ The submission of the
EPEA application and commencement of the consultation process for the D56 permit comes after 2 years of
early engagement with the most proximal landowners. We appreciate the ongoing communication with local
stakeholders whose feedback has been impactful as we have finalized the design of the facility. Starting th e
permitting marks an important milestone in the progression of our Clearwater Project toward commercial
operations.”
The application for the facility would enable production of up to 32,000 tonnes per year of lithium carbonate
(“LC”). E3 Lithium’s current development plans bring the Clearwater Project into production in phases , with
Phase 1 production targeted to be approximately 12,000 tonnes of LC per year. Timeframes to receive approval
for facility licenses of this nature in Alberta are typically six months. Given this is the first EPEA application
for a lithium production facility, the Company is anticipating a longer timeframe.
Clearwater Project Central Processing Facility
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chris Doornbos, President, CEO & Chair
E3 Lithium Ltd.
E3 Lithium - Investor Relations
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E3 Lithium - Media Inquiries
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About E3 Lithium
E3 Lithium is a development company with a total of 21.2 million tonnes of lithium carbonate
equivalent (LCE) Measured and Indicated 1 as well as 0.3 Mt LCE Inferred mineral resources 2 in
Alberta and 2.5 Mt LCE Inferred mineral resources 3 in Saskatchewan. The Clearwater Pre -
Feasibility Study outlined a 1.13 Mt LCE proven and probable mineral reserve with a pre -tax
NPV(8%) of USD 5.2 Billion with a 29.2% IRR and an after -tax NPV(8%) of USD 3.7 Billion with a
24.6% IRR1.
1: The Clearwater Project NI 43-101 Pre-Feasibility Study, effective June 20, 2024, identified 16.2
Mt LCE (measured and indicated) and is available on the E3 Lithium’s website
(www.e3lithium.ca/technical-reports/) and SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca).
2: The mineral resource NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Garrington District Lithium Resource
Estimate, effective June 25, 2025, identified 5.0 Mt LCE (measured and indicated) and 0.3 Mt
LCE (inferred) and will be available on the E3 Lithium’s website (www.e3lithium.ca/technical-
reports/) and SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) within 45 days of this news release.
3: The mineral resource NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Estevan Lithium District, effective May
23, 2024, identified 2.5 Mt LCE (inferred) and is available on the E3 Lithium’s website
(www.e3lithium.ca/technical-reports/) and SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca).
Unless otherwise indicated, Kevin Carroll, P. Eng., Chief Development Officer and a Qualified
Person under National Instrument 43 -101, has reviewed and approved the technical information
contained on this news release.
Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements
This news release includes certain forward -looking statements as well as management’s objectives,
strategies, beliefs and intentions or forward -looking information within the meaning of applicable securities
laws. Forward-looking statements are frequently identified by such words as “believe”, “may”, “will”, “plan”,
“expect”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “intend”, “project”, “potential”, “possible” and similar words referring to
future events and results. Forward -looking statements are based on the current opinions, expectations,
estimates and assumptions of management in light of its experience, perception of historical trends, and
results of the PFS, but such statements are not guarantees of future performance. In particular, this news
release contains forward-looking information relating to: the expected timelines for the assembly, testing and
commissioning of the demonstration equipment; production, pretreatment, purification, volume reduction and
conversion process and features and the expected outcomes thereof; the Company’s expectations regarding
the production of lithium carbonate; plans and objectives of management for the Company’s operations of the
Demonstration Facility; and the inherent hazards associated with mineral exploration and mining operations.
In preparing the forward-looking information in this news release, the Company has applied several material
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assumptions, including, but not limited to, that any additional financing needed will be available on reasonable
terms; the exchange rates for the U.S. and Canadian currencies will be consistent with the Company’s
expectations; that the current exploration , development, environmental and other objectives concerning the
Demonstration Facility can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected; that
general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner and that all
necessary governmental approvals for the planned activities on the Demonstration Facility will be obtained in
a timely manner and on acceptable terms.
All forward-looking information (including future-orientated financial information) is inherently uncertain and
subject to a variety of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including the speculative nature of mineral
exploration and development, fluctuating commodity prices, the effectiveness and feasibility of emerging
lithium extraction technologies which have not yet been tested or proven on a commercial scale or on the
Company’s brine, risks related to the availability of financing on commercially reas onable terms and the
expected use of proceeds; operations and contractual obligations; changes in estimated mineral reserves or
mineral resources; future prices of lithium and other metals; availability of third party contractors; availability
of equipment; failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural
phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry; the Company’s lack of operating
revenues; currency fluctuations; risks related to dependence on key personnel; estimates used in financial
statements proving to be incorrect; competitive risks and the availability of financing, as described in more
detail in our recent securities filings available under the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ ( www.sedarplus.ca).
Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and we
caution against placing undue reliance thereon. We assume no obligation to revise or update these forward -
looking statements except as required by applicable law.