Manitoba is throwing its hat within the ring as the subsequent hub for vital minerals mining and processing to help the electric-vehicle provide chain.
The province’s “lengthy overdue” technique, launched July 25, is a sign to the business that it’s critical about leveraging its pure assets, stated Jeff Wharton, minister of financial growth, funding and commerce.
“The shingle’s out. We’re open for enterprise,” he instructed Automotive Information Canada.
The technique will assist mining within the province maintain tempo with growing demand whereas extending Manitoba’s attain into the value-added processing of minerals and end-product manufacturing.
“For too a few years, we’ve been sending our product, our vital minerals, offshore; having it manufactured; after which shopping for it again,” Wharton stated.
Manitoba’s mixture of assets, an electrical energy grid virtually completely powered by renewables, and a talented workforce positions the province favourably, he stated.
Wharton, with Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson, launched the technique at an occasion close to Winnipeg.
Stefanson described the province — which boasts 29 of the 31 minerals the Canadian authorities acknowledges as important — because the “Costco of vital minerals.”
NO STRANGER TO MINING
With lithium, nickel and different metals obtainable in Manitoba which can be integral to EVs, Wharton stated, the federal government goals to see minerals manufactured into finish merchandise earlier than leaving the province.
“We’re actually excited in regards to the conversations we’ve had with corporations all through the world that need to Manitoba in precisely that area with respect to manufacturing of the batteries right here,” he stated.
However the province has vital floor to make as much as catch Canadian battery-supply-chain leaders Quebec and Ontario, the place corporations have introduced tens of billions in battery-cell and materials investments over the previous two-and-half years.
Manitoba has a mine producing lithium, however a 2019 takeover put it underneath the management of China-based Sinomine Useful resource Group Co., which ships the lithium offshore for processing.
About 20 different corporations are finishing up exploration or growth work on lithium-rich deposits in different areas of the province.
Winnipeg-based Snow Lake Lithium Ltd., as an example, is creating the Thompson Brothers hard-rock lithium mission in central Manitoba. Regulatory and monetary obstacles stay, however the firm goals to start out web site growth subsequent yr.
Snow Lake additionally struck a nonbinding partnership with battery-cell maker LG Power Answer in September 2022 that would carry a lithium processing plant to the Winnipeg space.
Grid Metals Corp., New Age Metals Inc. and Foremost Lithium Useful resource & Expertise Ltd. are among the many different builders advancing lithium tasks in Manitoba.
PROMPT PERMITS
To assist the businesses get shovels within the floor, the province’s critical-minerals technique features a dedication to accelerating the allowing course of. A part of a current $5 million funding will go towards growing by 50 per cent the variety of employees engaged on allowing information, whereas different steps are upcoming, the technique says.
A scarcity of capital is one other problem for potential corporations, Wharton stated, however, “The federal government might be … positive to help in these areas the place we will, the place it advantages all Manitobans.”
Whereas the province has a number of helps on its books for mining corporations, together with progressive tax charges and deferred taxation for brand new mines, the critical-minerals technique affords few new initiatives. It does decide to working with Ottawa to make sure that funds from the federal technique are funneled towards Manitoba.