Nickel Belt News Volume 61 • Issue 47
Friday, December 10, 2021
Thompson, Manitoba
Serving the Norman Region since 1961
Company hopes to open lithium mining operation near Snow Lake within the next few years
BY IAN GRAHAM
EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
A company with mining claims around Snow Lake is hoping to capitalize on rising demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and the batteries that power them in an environmentally responsible way. Snow Lake Resources Ltd., doing business as Snow Lake Lithium, recently raised more than $27 million through an initial public offering of shares and has visions of operating a totally renewable and sustainable lithium mine that “can deliver a completely traceable, carbon neutral and zero harm product to the electric vehicle and battery market.” The company predicts that it could be able to pro-
duce as much as 160,000 tonnes per year of six per cent lithium concentrate for up to a decade from its 21,703-acre claims though underground and open pit mining, all powered by renewable Manitoba Hydro electricity while making use of electric machinery. In addition to the money raised by its public share offering, Snow Lake Lithium has also received $62,000 from the Manitoba Mineral Development Fund (MMDF) for a drone magnetic survey of its property, only three per cent of which has been explored. Snow Lake Lithium believes it could potentially start mining as early as 2024, by which time global lithium demand is expected to double due to more bat-
Snow Lake Lithium hopes that rising global demand for lithium to use in batteries to power electric vehicles can be the foundation for a carbon neutral mine a few years down the road.
teries needed for electric vehicles, which are predicted to top 11 million in annual sales worldwide by 2025. “Our Snow Lake project has been historically known to contain lithium-bearing pegmatites that were first documented in the 1930 and 1940s,” said the company’s vice-president of resource development Dale Schultz in a Nov. 30 news release announcing the addition of the 7,875-acre Herb Block of claims to their property. “Based on our compilation of historic date, we know there exists other pegmatite cluster with the Herb Block that has not yet been evaluated for lithium. Our goal is to follow up on these clusters thereby developing future tonnes that will be added to our current re-
source base.” Snow Lake Lithium CEO Philip Gross says that exploration activities could add significant resources to that which is already known and could help the company achieve costs reductions once production begins. “Manitoba has a proud mining legacy for over a century and Snow Lake Lithium will ensure its continuity for the next century as Manitoba establishes itself as a critical member of the EV supply chain,” said Chuck Davidson, president of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, which oversees the MMDF, who is himself a former Snow Lake resident. “We look forward to working with Snow Lake Lithium as they progress to production and beyond.”
Family of Nisichawayasihk man missing for 40 days in an ‘apprehensive state’ BY IAN GRAHAM
EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
The parents of a Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN) man missing since Oct. 21 held a press conference Dec. 1 appealing for the public to provide any information they have and for the RCMP to keep them updated on the investigation. Rico Cody Roger Linklater, 22, was last seen in NCN in the early morning hours of Oct. 21. Nelson House RCMP said in an Oct. 25 press release that they believed he was still in the community although it was possible he may have travelled to Thompson. Described as six feet tall and 160 pounds, Rico has a slim build, black
hair and brown eyes. He was wearing grey pants, a black sweater, brown Nike shoes and a grey baseball cap when he was last seen. “His disappearance has put us in an apprehensive state,” his father Roger Linklater said at the press conference organized and broadcast by Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO). “We are in total shock and disbelief. His five sisters and brothers ask us when he’s coming home. Our son’s life is the most important thing in the world right now. Rico’s life matters to us.” Rico’s mother Sylvia Wood urged residents of NCN to share anything they know with RCMP
and for police to let them know anything they have discovered. “We are frustrated as we have not received any updates from investigators on this case,” she said. “We have shared many tips but have not received follow-up.” Hilda Anderson-Pyrz of MKO’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) liaison unit said the National Inquiry into MMIWG identified the lack of police communication with families of missing and murdered women as problematic and she said the same applies when the person missing is male. “It’s already so difficult
on the family and they don’t need the added stress of the lack of communication from the RCMP.” MKO Grand Chief Garrison Settee said there needs to be more resources in the north to help families and communities search for missing people. “When you don’t have things at your disposal it makes it harder on communities, harder on families,” he said. “It’s really important to find those resources.” Rico Linklater was reported missing Oct. 23 after having last been seen in Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation two days earlier. RCMP handout
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