In 1997, John Wightman found lithium in southwest Nova Scotia and saw the potential for a mine. But nearly 30 years later, a commercial mine has yet to start operating.

Wightman, a longtime geologist and prospector based in Bridgetown, N.S., said the biggest barrier to getting the operation going is money.

"It's always money," he said with a laugh.

Wightman said the property near Brazil Lake in Yarmouth County appears to contain more than 10 million tonnes of lithium-containing ore, meaning it cou…