Calgary – September 10, 2026 -- Canadian Energy Metals Corp. (CEM) has achieved proof-of-concept for producing Smelter Grade Alumina (SGA) from a non-bauxite resource, marking a potential shift in North America's aluminum supply chain, and has formally commenced its Prefeasibility Study (PFS) for the Thor Project in northeast Saskatchewan.
CEM's process converts black shale into alumina matching Bayer Process purity standards
The company's testing process converts boehmite, derived from precursors linked to High Purity Alumina (HPA) and Chemical Grade Alumina (CGA), into SGA that consistently matches the purity and specifications of alumina produced through the Bayer Process, the current industry standard for refining bauxite. SGA is the principal feedstock for aluminum metal production, and CEM's results were achieved without relying on bauxite, the conventional ore source.
Prefeasibility Study will define capital costs and commercial viability of Thor Project
The newly launched PFS will provide an engineering and economic assessment covering mining, refining and smelting pathways at Thor, located adjacent to Tisdale, Saskatchewan. The study will upgrade resource confidence, establish preliminary capital and operating cost estimates, evaluate logistics and infrastructure options, and determine whether the project can advance to a full Feasibility Study.
CEO Hopkins says engineering partners are advancing North America's first integrated aluminum project
"The processes we've developed over the last two years with our leading engineering partners are rapidly advancing North America's first fully integrated aluminum project," said Christopher Hopkins, President and CEO of CEM.
Milestone builds on January and May 2026 disclosures on HPA, CGA and PEA economics
CEM announced proof-of-concept for HPA and CGA recovery from Thor Project black shales in January 2026. The company's Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA), filed on SEDAR+ in May 2026, evaluated the potential economics of producing high-purity and high-value alumina products from the discovered shales. The new SGA milestone expands the potential product pathway for the project.
CEM positions domestic alumina supply as a hedge against global supply chain disruption
The company frames its ability to establish a secure North American supply chain, from resource extraction through processing and delivery, as a key differentiator amid elevated global supply chain disruption risk. CEM is continuing technical work supporting the PFS through advanced piloting and is extending exploration for additional critical metals across its mineral rights. Scientific and technical information in the release was reviewed by Gary Billingsley, P.Eng, P.Geo, Chief Operating Officer of CEM and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101.