February 6, 2025 Montreal, Quebec Natural Resources Canada
Investments in critical minerals are essential for Canada to seize the economic opportunities presented by a low-carbon economy and to capitalize on its rich mineral resources. Canada is well positioned to be a global leader and a reliable supplier to the world of critical minerals, which are increasingly in demand to power essential for powering the digital economy. By developing and expanding critical mineral value chains - from mining and processing to manufacturing and recycling - Canada can create good jobs, support economic opportunities, reduce reliance on countries like China and contribute to a resilient and secure future.
Today, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced up to $43.5 million in investments under two critical mineral funding programs that will help to advance critical minerals research and infrastructure developments in Quebec.
Today's announcement includes up to $39.8 million in conditionally approved investments, pending final due diligence, under the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund (CMIF) for six energy and transportation infrastructure projects to support critical minerals development:
- Up to $20 million for Critical Elements Lithium Corporation to construct a new main electrical station and relocate 4.2 kilometres of transmission line to service its Rose Lithium-Tantalum Mining Project in Eeyou Istchee James Bay, Quebec.
- Up to $1.1 million for Dumont Nickel to conduct a feasibility study to connect its nickel and cobalt project to the Hydro-Québec grid via an eight-kilometre transmission line.
- Up to $1.3 million for Sayona Nord Inc. to advance an approximately 55-kilometre transmission line that will provide electricity grid connection for their Moblan lithium project located in Eeyou Istchee James Bay, Quebec.
- Up to $13.5 million for Eskan Company, an Indigenous-owned company, to undertake a feasibility study to extend the Renard Mine access road by 87 kilometres toward lithium-based minerals projects located in Eeyou Istchee James Bay, Quebec.
- Up to $1.3 million for Cbay Minerals Inc to complete a feasibility study and environmental and social impact assessment to support the development of two-lane gravel roads and 25-kV electrical powerlines connecting the Corner Bay and Devlin deposits close to the town of Chibougamau in Eeyou Istchee James Bay, Quebec,
- Up to $2.6 million for Commerce Resources to study the feasibility of an approximately 1,7560- kilometre road that would connect the Ashram rare earths and fluorspar project. This infrastructure will support the increase of the production of rare earth elements and fluorspar from the Ashram Deposit in the Nunavik region of northern Quebec.
Under the Critical Minerals Research, Development and Demonstration (CMRDD) program, the federal government is also investing $3.7 million to COALIA to pilot the extraction and purification of lithium from spodumene ore using nitric acid, enabling the recovery of lithium and byproducts to be recycled as nitrogen fertilizers, minimizing waste material production. This will demonstrate and validate the economics and efficiency of a novel lithium process.
This new funding is a direct result of enhanced collaboration between the Government of Canada and the Province of Quebec through the new Quebec-Canada Collaboration Table on Energy and Resources, announced earlier today.
Together, the Governments of Canada and Quebec, within their respective jurisdictions, are creating the good jobs and enduring prosperity that will come with the unprecedented economic opportunities of building a strong 21st-century economy. The initiatives announced today will help support a variety of opportunities for clean growth while creating a greener, healthier, more resilient Canada.
