Former senior Ekati figure moves to lithium explorer Li-FT

Lithium exploration firm Li-FT says a man who formerly helped lead the Ekati diamond mine is its new senior vice-president of development.

Li-FT is trying to start a lithium mine northeast of Yellowknife, though the company says it has a narrow window of economic viability in which to do so.

Jeff Reinson “brings more than 25 years of project development, engineering and operational leadership across a range of mining operations, and his experience will be a major asset as we advance our portfolio and strengthen our execution capabilities,” Li-FT’s Francis MacDonald was quoted as saying in a Wednesday news release.

Reinson was previously the vice-president of operations for Ekati owner Burgundy, a position he had held since 2024. He remains listed as a senior leader on Burgundy’s website.

Ekati recently received a federal loan of more than $100 million to keep it afloat as the market for natural diamonds crashes. Burgundy has said Ekati will be a smaller enterprise now than it was previously, and the NWT mine’s future is still considered uncertain.