Northern Ontario Construction News staff writer
GREATER SUDBURY — Frontier Lithium Inc. has launched a definitive feasibility study (DFS) for its proposed lithium conversion facility in Thunder Bay, the company announced Wednesday.
The study, awarded to engineering and construction firm Fluor Canada Ltd., will assess the viability of a commercial-scale refinery that would produce battery-grade lithium hydroxide from Frontier’s own mineral resources as well as potential third-party feedstock.
“This phase of the project is critical not only for Frontier, but for ensuring that we continue to build a successful made-in-Canada EV battery supply chain,” said Frontier president and CEO Trevor Walker in a news release. “We’re confident in the lithium refining experience of our project team and excited to move forward.”
The refinery, to be located on the recently acquired Mission Island site, is expected to produce about 20,000 tonnes per year of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE), enough to support battery production for roughly 500,000 electric vehicles annually.
Fluor’s scope of work will include infrastructure and process design, cost estimation, economic evaluation, procurement planning, and the preparation of a National Instrument 43-101 technical report. The firm will also coordinate with consultants on environmental and technical studies.
The DFS is expected to be completed within 18 months and will provide the foundation for Frontier’s first commercial lithium refining operation. Preliminary capital cost estimates will support ongoing negotiations with the federal and Ontario governments, with agreements anticipated in 2025 or 2026.
Frontier says it may update the study in future to reflect integrated economics between its mine, mill and refining operations.
The Thunder Bay project builds on Frontier’s PAK Lithium Project in Ontario’s Great Lakes region — a joint venture with Mitsubishi Corporation. A feasibility study for the mine and mill released earlier this year outlined a 31-year project life and an after-tax net present value of $932 million.
The company says it remains committed to sustainable development and ongoing collaboration with Indigenous communities and other stakeholders.
Frontier Lithium Inc. is a pre-production mining company focused on developing integrated spodumene concentrate and lithium salt production in Ontario for North American electric vehicle and energy storage markets.