EMP METALS PARTNER SALTWORKS SELECTED BY GLOBAL SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURER FOR LANDMARK ADVANCED WATER RECOVERY AND ZLD PROJECT
EMP Metals gains partner validation as Saltworks lands semiconductor water deal
- On April 7, 2026, Saltworks Technologies Inc., EMP Metals’ partner on Project Aurora, was selected by a leading global semiconductor manufacturer to provide advanced water recovery and zero‑liquid‑discharge (ZLD) infrastructure for a large‑scale fab project.
- The award highlights Saltworks’ high‑TDS ion exchange (“Xtract”), ultra‑high‑recovery (“XtremeRO”) and SaltMaker MVR ZLD system, emphasizing modular off‑site construction, digital controls and reduced execution risk.
- EMP Metals CEO Karl Kottmeier stated the selection validates engineering excellence and boosts confidence that Project Aurora will continue to advance successfully.
- The news is routine‑positive: it confirms Saltworks’ technical capability but does not introduce new revenue, financing, or a direct project milestone for EMP Metals.
- No change in capital structure, timetable, or financial guidance resulted from the announcement; the impact is incremental confidence rather than a game‑changing development.
- Therefore the materiality aligns with a Routine‑Positive rating.
EMP Metals Corp. (CSE: EMPS; FSE: 9ST) is a Canadian critical‑minerals company focused on extracting lithium from brine aquifers in southeastern Saskatchewan. Its flagship initiative, Project Aurora, is a joint demonstration plant with Saltworks Technologies that employs Saltworks’ Gen II Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology to produce high‑purity lithium chloride for downstream conversion to battery‑grade chemicals. The demo plant aims to validate a modular “hub‑and‑spoke” lithium extraction model, de‑risk scale‑up, and provide data for a future 3,000+ tonne/year commercial refinery. EMP Metals controls over 205,000 net acres of subsurface dispositions in the Viewfield area, benefits from a Saskatchewan lithium production royalty of 3 % with a two‑year holiday on new capacity, and is advancing toward commercial readiness through staged financing and technology milestones.