E3 Lithium, a leader in Canadian lithium development, has formally submitted an application to the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) under Directive 056 for the Central Processing Facility (CPF) at its flagship Clearwater Project in Alberta—marking a major regulatory milestone for the company.

 

“Today E3 reached a major milestone for our flagship Clearwater Project in Alberta, with the submission of the D56 facility licence,” said Chris Doornbos, President and CEO of E3 Lithium. 

 

"Paired with the EPEA application previously submitted this past November, we are working closely with our local stakeholders through the permitting process, and we appreciate all the feedback we have received on the submission. At full capacity, this one facility could create hundreds of jobs, both on and off-site, and the construction is estimated to employ thousands of drillers, pipefitters, welders, machinists, professionals, etc., all from Alberta's workforce."

 

The Directive 056 submission follows the company’s Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA) application, filed in late 2025, and comes after formal consultation and notification of stakeholders in the area surrounding the CPF. Together, the D56 and EPEA approvals represent the two critical permits required to build and operate the Central Processing Facility.

 

E3 Lithium expects to submit additional regulatory applications—including approvals for wells, pipelines and the overall development scheme—throughout 2026. 

 

Once approved, these permits will provide the provincial authorization required to construct and operate the CPF. Approval of the D56 licence would confirm that the facility meets Alberta’s safety, environmental and land-use standards, and that E3 has completed meaningful stakeholder engagement.

 

The regulatory progress comes as E3 continues to advance the Clearwater Project on multiple fronts. The company has already delivered battery-grade lithium carbonate to global partners and off-takers through its on-site Demonstration Program and is pursuing a staged development strategy. 

 

The first phase is designed to produce up to 12,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate annually, positioning Clearwater as a significant new source of Canadian lithium supply.