Canada partners with Germany on critical minerals

Canadian firm Ucore has built a rare earth element demonstration separation plant in Kingston, Ontario. Mid-stream activities such as processing are a priority for Canadian-German critical minerals co-operation. (Ucore Rare Metals)

The Canadian Department of Natural Resources (NRCan) has signed a joint declaration of intent with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) for co-operation on critical minerals, NRCan said in a statement on 26 August.

The two countries “recognise the strategic importance of critical minerals to the economic and national security of our countries, including defence applications, the energy transition, clean technology manufacturing, and advanced manufacturing”, the statement said.

Devin Baines, an NRCan spokesperson, told Janes on 8 September that “the government of Canada has a mandate to strengthen and diversify our international partnerships”, which has gained increasing importance in a “changing geopolitical environment”.

“The joint declaration of intent on critical minerals was established to strengthen economic and national security ties between Canada and Germany, recognising the growing need for secure, diversified, and resilient critical mineral supply chains that reduce reliance on any single source,” he added. It is “focused on promoting co-operation and trade of critical minerals between Canada and Germany” and critical minerals projects located in the two countries, Baines explained.

This includes “advancing concrete projects that strengthen our supply chains and create jobs. The precise location of activities within the value chain (mining, processing, and finished goods) varies from project to project”, he said.

The statement emphasised the importance of “critical minerals mid-stream technologies, including smelting, processing, refining, and recycling capacity” and “fostering innovation, rules-based trade, investment, and collaboration in the critical minerals space”.