08:48 AM EST, 02/05/2026 (MT Newswires) -- EMP Metals ( EMPPF ) said Thursday that the service rig to be used for the re-entry of tan existing brackish water well has begun operations.

The process, including testing, is expected to take 10 days. Once completed, EMP will begin planning the integration of the brackish water source into the Project Aurora Demonstration Plant.

The well is near the plant site and testing is critical in identifying additional, low salinity, brackish water sources for continued advancement toward commercial production scale up, a statement said.

Project Aurora is a joint initiative between EMP Metals ( EMPPF ) and Saltworks Technologies. As part of the collaborative's launch, Saltworks will advance full-scale plant design and cost estimates for a 3,000+ tons per year modular, repeatable, commercial refinery for EMP Metals ( EMPPF ) utilizing data and insights from the demo plant project.