Critical Resources Ltd (ASX:CRR) has appointed SLR Consulting (Canada) to develop a regulatory roadmap and support environmental planning and development permitting for its Mavis Lake Lithium Project in Ontario, Canada. The appointment aims to streamline federal and provincial approvals by establishing a coordinated technical and government advisory workstream as the project progresses through its development phase.
The Mavis Lake Lithium Project is positioned as a potential contributor to the North American lithium supply chain. Since acquisition, Critical has expanded its landholding by about 25% to more than 400 km². The project hosts a maiden JORC inferred mineral resource of 8 Mt at 1.07% Li₂O, alongside an expanded exploration target. More than 58,000 m of drilling has been completed at the project since 2022.
SLR’s work will complement Critical’s existing engagement with Canadian government advisory firm Pathway Group, with the combined approach intended to align regulatory planning with broader policy and stakeholder engagement.
The company is also assessing opportunities for non-dilutive funding at both provincial and federal levels, including potential government grants, as part of efforts to manage capital requirements.
"The company’s engagement of SLR Consulting represents a decisive step in advancing the Mavis Lake Lithium Project. SLR’s global reputation in sustainability and its proven track record in complex permitting — particularly their ongoing work with Canada’s first deep geological nuclear waste repository in partnership with the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation — provides the Mavis Lake Project with unrivalled expertise and local insight," Critical Resources managing director Tim Wither said.
"By integrating SLR’s technical leadership with Pathway Group’s government advocacy, we are streamlining our regulatory approach and reinforcing our commitment to responsible development. This coordinated strategy not only mitigates risk and accelerates approvals, but also elevates Mavis Lake as a strategic asset in North America’s lithium supply chain. Critical Resources remains focused on its target delivering a fully permitted sustainable lithium operation that generates enduring value for shareholders, supports the global energy transition, and upholds the expected standards of environmental stewardship and community partnership."
Scope of SLR’s role
SLR will prepare a comprehensive permitting roadmap that outlines approvals pathways, regulatory interfaces and threshold requirements, integrated into a schedule aligned with engineering and development milestones.
CRR highlighted SLR’s experience in northwestern Ontario, including work supporting Canada’s Nuclear Waste Management Organization on its deep geological repository project.
SLR key strengths include:
- Comprehensive permitting solutions: Regulatory roadmap detailing approvals, agency interfaces, inputs, and threshold criteria — mapping federal and provincial requirements into an integrated schedule aligned with engineering and development milestones.
- Technical excellence: Specialists in mining permitting, environmental assessment, and community engagement lead baseline programs, impact assessment scoping, risk mitigation, and compliance documentation. Enhanced experience with SLR currently involved in environmental permitting for several other mining projects in the region.
- Sustainability leadership: SLR embeds environmental stewardship and social responsibility, ensuring projects meet or exceed regulatory standards while co-creating outcomes with Indigenous communities and local stakeholders.
- Complex-project credentials: Direct experience assisting Canada's Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) with its first deep geological nuclear waste repository in partnership with the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation. The nuclear repository project in northwestern Ontario provides SLR with unique insight into engagement with First Nations following strict environmental safety, directly informing Mavis Lake’s permitting discipline.
- End-to-end support: From early site understanding through approvals, construction readiness, and operating compliance, SLR provides support that keeps technical and stakeholder workstreams aligned.
Environmental studies, community engagement and next steps
Baseline environmental studies and data collection are underway to support future environmental assessment and permitting requirements.
CRR has reached an agreement-in-principle with the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation and continues consultation with other nearby Indigenous groups, including Eagle Lake First Nation, Naotkamegwanning (Whitefish) Nation, Lac Seul First Nation and the Métis Nation of Ontario.
The company’s next steps include reviewing existing regulatory conditions, finalising an integrated approvals plan, aligning stakeholder engagement with permitting timelines, confirming baseline study priorities, and continuing updates on permitting and community engagement progress.