Advancing Quebec Mining Through Streamlined Reviews

According to a feasibility study finalized in May 2024, the operation has the potential to rank among the largest gold producers in Canada. The site projects an average annual output of 303,000 ounces of gold across a 22-year mine life. To support operations of this scale, the Filon permitting program was designed to effectively coordinate both provincial and federal environmental assessments.

Kateri Champagne Jourdain, Quebec’s natural resources minister, stated that the initiative will strengthen the local economy while generating lasting benefits for the northern region. She noted that the development will reinforce the province’s standing as a premier destination for Quebec mining. Through the Filon permitting program, the company will receive specialized administrative support to responsibly advance the operation.

Dedicated Support for Strategic Operations

By entering this streamlined system, operations benefit from dedicated experts who guide them through the administrative landscape, identify potential bottlenecks, and maintain direct communication with government ministries. Justin Reid, CEO of Troilus, expressed that the company is honored to be among the first entities selected for this initiative. He emphasized that the operation is well-positioned to support the province’s critical minerals strategy. Reid also welcomed the ongoing efforts to optimize the regulatory process without compromising transparency or rigorous environmental standards.

With the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment currently under review at both the provincial and federal levels, permitting decisions are anticipated by the end of 2026. The advancement of the Troilus gold project aligns with the broader push to secure critical minerals and elevate regional gold producers on the global stage. As engineering and project financing advance concurrently, the company is positioning itself for a formal construction decision as early as 2027, strictly pending all necessary regulatory approvals. This ongoing progress continues to highlight the proactive evolution of Quebec mining regulations.

Australia’s Chief Scientist, Professor Tony Haymet, has presented a strategic vision for enhanced collaboration between Australia and South Korea. Speaking at the Korea-Australia Future Forum in Seoul, Haymet emphasized the need for greater cooperation to build a resilient critical minerals supply chain and advance new technologies. This partnership aims to fortify both nations’ roles in the global energy transition.

Highlighting the enduring relationship, Haymet noted that this year marks 65 years of diplomatic ties between Australia and South Korea, as well as the fifth anniversary of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. He observed that the relationship has evolved beyond traditional trade and diplomacy, becoming increasingly driven by science, technology, innovation, and the exchange of ideas.

Strategic Opportunities in Advanced Manufacturing

According to Haymet, Australia and South Korea possess complementary strengths that make them ideal partners for developing critical technologies and resilient supply chains. He identified several key areas for collaboration, including the critical minerals supply chain, advanced manufacturing, and emerging technologies such as quantum computing and artificial intelligence.

The complementary nature of the partnership is particularly evident in the battery and semiconductor industries. While Australia provides many of the critical minerals essential for future technologies, South Korea is a global leader in advanced manufacturing, transforming these raw materials into high-value technology products.

A key element of this cooperation is the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Australia and South Korea on critical minerals supply chains. Haymet explained that the agreement promotes joint research and engineering efforts to discover, process, recycle, and utilise critical minerals more efficiently and sustainably.

Commercial Partnerships Driving the Industry

To transform scientific research into meaningful commercial outcomes, Haymet emphasised the importance of strong partnerships among governments, universities, and private industry. He noted that while high-quality research provides the foundation, creating effective pathways for investment, commercialisation, and industry adoption is equally essential.

This collaborative vision is already taking shape through major commercial agreements. Mineral Resources has strengthened its lithium partnership with POSCO Holdings. Under the agreement, the South Korean steelmaker will acquire a 30% stake in LithCo, the operational lithium business of Mineral Resources. The joint venture will hold 50% interests in the Wodgina and Mt Marion lithium mines, reinforcing long-term cooperation across one of Australia’s premier lithium portfolios.

In another significant development, Lynas Rare Earths has expanded its downstream partnership with South Korean manufacturer JS Link. The collaboration aims to establish an integrated rare earth supply chain outside China. JS Link plans to build a rare earth permanent magnet manufacturing facility in Kuantan, Malaysia, with an annual production capacity of 3,000 tonnes of neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) permanent sintered magnets. Lynas will invest approximately $50 million in the project through an exclusive supply agreement that extends until January 2038.

The Future of Technology and Human Capital

Looking beyond critical minerals, Haymet highlighted that emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, robotics, quantum computing, and advanced manufacturing offer significant opportunities for future collaboration. He concluded that the long-term success of these technological partnerships will depend on human capital, with researchers, entrepreneurs, students, and investors working seamlessly across international borders.

The project will be designed, constructed and operated by Alcoa, drawing on the company’s alumina refining and mineral processing expertise. Once operational, the facility is expected to increase the availability of gallium used in semiconductors, power electronics and defence applications while contributing to more diversified global supply chains.

Wagerup Refinery To Expand Critical Mineral Production

The Alcoa gallium production plant will recover gallium through the existing alumina refining process at the Wagerup refinery rather than relying on a standalone mining operation. By integrating gallium extraction into current refinery activities, the project aims to improve resource utilisation while adding value to existing operations.

Construction is expected to begin once final site preparations are completed. Alcoa said its role as both construction and operating manager is not expected to have a material impact on the company’s financial position or operating results.

International Partnership Supports Supply Chain Diversification

The Alcoa gallium production plant reflects a collaborative effort between industry and government to strengthen supplies of critical minerals that support advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies. The governments of Australia, Japan and the United States are backing the project as part of broader initiatives to improve supply chain resilience for strategically important materials.

William Oplinger, Chief Executive Officer of Alcoa, said the investment demonstrates a shared commitment between governments and industry to develop more secure critical mineral supply chains while reinforcing Western Australia’s role in supplying materials essential to future technologies.

Project Strengthens Gallium Supply For Advanced Industries

Gallium plays an important role in manufacturing semiconductors, high-performance electronics and defence technologies, making it a key material for several industrial sectors. The Alcoa gallium production plant is expected to provide an additional source of supply as manufacturers seek greater supply chain diversity and long-term availability of critical minerals.

The project also supports wider industry efforts to strengthen mineral processing capacity and develop more resilient supply networks for materials that underpin the energy transition, advanced manufacturing and national security applications.

Using existing Yandi infrastructure, the Ministers North Project is designed to deliver 20 million tpy once ramped up. It will help sustain tonnes and support BHP’s 305 million tpy (100% basis) medium term iron ore production target.

Yandi Infrastructure to Be Expanded

The development will establish the Ministers North orebodies as a satellite extension of Yandi. Planned work includes a 13 km haul road and land bridge connecting Yandi and Ministers North. BHP will also upgrade existing infrastructure and install a new primary and secondary crusher at Yandi to support future production.

By using the existing infrastructure, skills and experience at Yandi, the Ministers North Project is intended to bring a new orebody into production while supporting continuity across BHP’s Western Australia Iron Ore operations.

BHP Highlights Yandi’s Long-Term Role

BHP Western Australia Iron Ore Asset President Tim Day said: “Yandi has been an important part of our WA iron ore operations for more than 30 years.

“Our investment in Ministers North helps us build on that legacy. We’re making the most of the infrastructure, skills, and experience we already have to bring a new orebody into production and keep our high-quality Pilbara iron ore flowing. “This is about maintaining continuity as Yandi matures naturally and backing the future of the Pilbara and our iron ore business.”

Joint Venture Partners Support Capacity

Ministers North is a joint venture between BHP, Itochu Corporation and Mitsui & Co, with ownership interests of 85%, 8%, and 7% respectively. The Ministers North Project reflects the strength of the joint venture partnership and its shared long-term commitment to sustaining production capacity and creating enduring value.

The company entered into an MOU along with Ioneer, the Australian critical minerals developer, in order to provide purchasing services for the large-scale mining and processing project, thereby emphasizing its pledge of supporting the fast-growing electric vehicle – EV battery as well as clean energy supply chains.

The agreement was signed in Washington, D.C., after a Letter of Intent – LoI was exchanged between both companies in June 2026. The MOU also defines the extent of cooperation and specifies the role of Hyundai Engineering in the procurement and sourcing of important equipment and materials necessary for the progress of the project. Senior government and industry representatives from both South Korea and the United States were present at the signing ceremony, pointing out the strategic significance of the project in enhancing critical mineral supply chains.

Attendees included officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of South Korea, the Korea Overseas Infrastructure and Urban Development Corporation – KIND, the U.S. Department of Energy – DoE, Hyundai Engineering and Ioneer.

Valued at about $2 billion, the Rhyolite Ridge project is located in Nevada and is acknowledged as the largest known lithium-boron deposit in North America. Apparently, it is one of the few deposits in the world that is able to commercially produce lithium and boron from a single ore body, which is indeed a strategic asset for the transition to energy. Owned by Ioneer, which is Sydney, Australia-based, the project will employ advanced process optimization technologies in order to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate as well as boric acid right at the mine site.

It is well to be noted that this integrated production approach will boost operational efficiency while supporting the increasing demand for critical minerals essential for electric vehicle batteries, electronics, and industrial applications as well as renewable energy storage systems.

Interestingly, the project has already reached a range of important goals. It secured its last federal permit from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in October 2024, completing the main regulatory authorization process after almost 10 years of environmental evaluations and project planning.

In addition, the U.S. Department of Energy has committed roughly $1 billion in funding, pointing out the crucial role of the project when it comes to reducing the reliance on imported critical minerals and also boosting domestic supply chains. Regulatory approvals have been obtained, financial support is on track, and the project is progressing into its construction along with operating development phase.

Under the partnership, Hyundai Engineering will take charge of purchasing activities for key equipment and industrial systems as well as construction materials. The company sees the project as an important starting point to further develop its engineering and procurement expertise in the $2bn North American critical minerals market. Hyundai Engineering intends to use its experience, in addition to supporting the Nevada development, to win further global contracts for processing lithium, rare earths, and other strategic minerals.

The partnership could also get a lift from KIND, which is looking into a possible equity investment in the effort. This involvement would strengthen collaborative efforts between the South Korean government, policy finance organizations, and private companies and improve long-term accessibility to important raw materials when it comes to Korean industries.

As per Hyundai Engineering, its involvement in Rhyolite Ridge development constitutes a major achievement as it coincides with the efforts made by the U.S. government to create resilient and varied critical mineral supply chains.

The company reiterated its dedication to the successful delivery of the project and to broadening its position in the global critical minerals infrastructure segment.

Hyundai Engineering continues to bolster its expanded engineering portfolio in other domains. Just recently, the company finished the Rene Square project located in the Euljiro 3-ga District 6 redevelopment zone in Seoul, demonstrating its knowhow when it comes to large-scale urban construction as well as its growing presence throughout industrial and energy infrastructure projects.

The lithium-boron project from Rhyolite Ridge has the potential to strengthen the long-term supply outlook when it comes to lithium carbonate as well as boric acid in North America, contributing to the growing electric vehicle market in the region, in addition to energy storage, glass, ceramics, fertilizer, as well as specialty chemical industries.

The project will have little immediate effect in its construction stage, but when completed, it will lower dependence on imported lithium products and enhance regional supply safety. More domestic production may improve supply chain resilience and mitigate future supply limitations. As new production capability comes on stream, supply risks might drop, contributing to lower price volatility along with procurement uncertainty. Overall, the project should encourage relatively stable to moderately downward pricing patterns for lithium-related chemicals and a more robust supply chain for critical minerals within North America.

As per this nine-year mining services contract, BCM is going to provide a variety of mining services comprising the mining fleet, training, and managing locally hired operators.

It will additionally oversee all mining operations under the supervision of the Ethiopian subsidiary of KEFI, Tulu Kapi Gold Mines Share Company.

According to Paul Coe, BCM Group CEO, “BCM is a pioneering mining services group that expanded from Western Australia into West Africa more than 30 years ago. We are proud to support the development of Ethiopia’s mining sector alongside KEFI, particularly given our shared experience of successfully establishing mining projects in emerging jurisdictions, including the Middle East.”

Notably, the contract was concluded in London during the first Ethio-British Investment Forum, which was attended by Gedion Timothewos Hessebon, Ethiopia’s minister of foreign affairs.

Before this agreement, BCM had already mobilized in Ethiopia to offer bulk earthworks and drilling services to the project.

Now that the deal is done, BCM can go ahead with the ordering and deployment of a Caterpillar mining fleet for full-scale work at the site.

Says KEFI executive chairman Harry Anagnostaras-Adams, “Today’s Ethio-British Investment Forum marks an important milestone in the development of Ethiopia’s private sector and international investment profile. Mining has already emerged as Ethiopia’s leading export-generating sector, yet the industry is only beginning to unlock its vast potential.”

Apparently, mining is already the largest export-earning sector of the country, but the industry is only starting to get to know its massive potential.

It is well to be noted that the Tulu Kapi Gold Project has a likely ore reserve of 1.05 million ounces and a mineral resource of 1.72 moz of gold.

KEFI is working on the site with the Ethiopian government, with which it entered into a mining contract in April 2015.

Interestingly, Gold was initially discovered and mined in small amounts by an Italian consortium at Tulu Kapi in the 1930s.

The Kangankunde development represents a significant turning point for the critical minerals sector of Africa at a time when governments and industrial manufacturers are increasingly searching for geographically varied sources of supply. As per Lindian, the first phase of the project is anticipated to yield about 20,000 metric tonnes of rare earths concentrate per year. The first ramp-up phase is expected to generate around 10,000 t/y before scaling up to full potential.

Kangankunde is part of a growing wave of rare-earth developments throughout Africa that might substantially boost the continent’s share of global supply throughout the next decade. Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, the research firm, estimated that eight planned projects spanning Tanzania, Angola, and Malawi as well as South Africa could see Africa comprise nearly 9% of the supply of rare earths throughout the world by 2029.

In the meantime, Fitch Solutions predicts Africa to account for around 7% of global rare earths production by 2034 and roughly 16% of non-Chinese supply by then. Africa’s rare earths sector is on the rebound after a series of obstacles elsewhere on the continent. It is well to be noted that the Gakara project by Rainbow Rare Earths in Burundi became Africa’s industrial-scale rare earths mine on launch in 2017. But operations have been cancelled since 2021 owing to a request by the Burundian government to cease mining activities.

Investor interest in African critical minerals is growing, but finance is one of the greatest obstacles confronting new rare earths projects. The United States and the European Union have both stepped up attempts to encourage alternative supply chains in the context of broader efforts to minimise reliance on China. Western institutions and policymakers have already supported several African projects.

One is the Longonjo rare earths project in Angola, which is anticipated to start production in 2027 with backing from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. The Songwe Hill project in Malawi, along with the Zandkopsdrift project in South Africa, has also been designated by the European Commission as a strategic initiative outside the European Union.

Assets like Kangankunde are growing in importance and are strategically vital in the reordering of global supply chains as the global race for critical minerals becomes more intense, rather than just as commercial mining ventures.

Countries are pouring money into clean energy and electric vehicles as well as advanced defence technologies, driving up international consumption of rare earths minerals. There are 17 critical minerals acting as key ingredients in the making of permanent magnets utilised in EV motors, wind turbines, smartphones, and aerospace systems as well as military equipment. But the world’s rare earths industry remains highly dependent on China, which persists in dominating both mining as well as refining. China’s tighter export controls and increased geopolitical tensions have sparked worries about supply chain security between Western governments and industries. Consequently, countries are looking for alternate and dependable sources of critical minerals.

In this regard, Africa has become a region of strategic importance because of its huge and largely unexplored mineral resources. Many African countries are developing rare earths mining and processing projects so as to help diversify global supply chains, reduce reliance on Chinese production and solidify the continent’s position across the global critical minerals market.

Funding $1.3bn for Zambia Rail Project will support the creation of an 830-kilometre link between Zambia’s north-western copper belt and the Atlantic port of Lobito in Angola, an essential part of the Lobito Corridor. The route is intended to offer a quicker, more direct export route for critical minerals like copper and cobalt.

The sponsors of the project say the financing package involves $500 million each from the Africa Finance Corporation – AFC as well as the African Development Bank, with Italy putting in an additional $320 million.

When completed, the railway is expected to substantially decrease transport times for mineral exports from as much as 16 days to roughly seven days, minimising logistics costs and boosting the competitive edge of mining companies that operate in Zambia.

The project comes against a backdrop of increasing global demand when it comes to critical minerals utilised in electric vehicles and renewable energy systems as well as defence technologies. Analysts say that investment in infrastructure like the Lobito Corridor is becoming just as crucial as the minerals themselves, as nations and businesses seek safe and effective supply chains.

As per industry watchers, this is not just infrastructure, this is managing the flow of strategic resources. These industry watchers cite growing international rivalry over African mineral exports.

It is well to be noted that Zambia is the second-largest copper producer in Africa and has multiple large-scale mining projects underway or scheduled, putting it in an advantageous position to capitalise on growing demand. More production has led to an a greater need for efficient transport networks in order to bring minerals to global markets.

The railway is additionally anticipated to diversify export paths by decreasing dependence on longer, crowded corridors to ports on the eastern coast of Africa. The project will provide a direct link to the Atlantic and thus open up shortened shipping routes to Europe along with North America.

But the $1.3 billion pledge only covers an element of the railway’s projected $5 billion total cost, and more funding needs to be raised. Construction is due to start in 2026 itself and is scheduled to be completed by 2030.

The project will have to be financially viable with developers securing enough freight volumes from mining companies. Current commitments are close to one million tonnes a year, short of a projected demand of as much as three million tonnes.

The railway is, nonetheless, seen as a transforming investment that could cut transport costs, facilitate new mining projects, and encourage regional integration.

More broadly, the project is part of a wider trend in the mining sector in Africa, where infrastructure corridors are increasingly becoming essential drivers of economic growth as well as global competitiveness in the quest for energy transition minerals.

The Phalaborwa Rare Earths Project has US support by means of a USD 50 million equity investment from the International Development Finance Corporation of the government and is part of fast-tracked US efforts to cut dependence on economic rival China for the minerals needed to make electronic gadgets, robots, defence systems, and electric vehicles as well as other high-tech products.

Countries have designated dozens of minerals, such as copper, cobalt, and lithium as well as nickel, as critical because they are needed for new technologies. There are 17 rare earth elements. They are a subset of 17 rare earth elements.

Increasing access to critical minerals, including rare earth elements, has become a key Trump administration policy so as to counter China. The Trump administration announced in 2026 that it would use almost USD 12 billion so as to create its own strategic reserve.

Diplomatic rift will not derail the project

The DFC was established during the first Trump administration and invested in the Phalaborwa project in 2023 under former President Joe Biden.

The Trump administration has moved forward with the project, regardless of a major diplomatic rift with South Africa that started when Trump returned to office and went ahead and issued an executive order in February 2025 to stop any financial support to the country.

But the administration has demonstrated that some economic interests are more important. The DFC has promoted its work on the Phalaborwa project as part of a throttle to unlock the mineral potential of Africa while also advancing the US strategic interests.

It is well to be noted that Rainbow Rare Earths is developing the Phalaborwa project. The DFC investment is made via partner TechMet, which is a company that says it focuses on securing critical mineral supplies for the West. Apparently, the South African government has no ownership stake in the project.

George Bennett, CEO of Rainbow Rare Earths, told The Associated Press they hope to provide mostly to the US, saying its interest in the project was primarily to do with defence systems.

The company says it is targeting to tap rare earth elements including neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium as well as others from its South African project. They are utilised in high-performance magnets when it comes to wind turbines, electric vehicles, and defence as well as emerging applications like robotics.

The Phalaborwa project is aiming to produce rare earths from the two giant dunes by 2028. The dunes are made up of 35 million tonnes of phosphogypsum, which happens to be a waste byproduct from mining and processing phosphate rock in order to make acid and fertiliser.

Rainbow Rare Earths said the project would have a 16-year lifespan. The DFC’s $50 million injection will be used only when Rainbow Rare Earths commences the construction of its processing plant in Phalaborwa, which is projected to be in early 2027.

Rare earths are actually pretty common, but they tend to be in low levels and are difficult to separate, so the mining process is costly.

According to the research manager at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, Neha Mukherjee, the Phalaborwa project stands out due to its experimental above-ground mineral extraction process, however its potential is a mystery. It looks like a pretty low-cost asset as far as operational cost is concerned. Even the capital requirement is not that high, which is indeed a good sign.

The project matters because they do not have enough projects to meet the full demand outside of China, Mukherjee said.

The US is trying to catch up

Rainbow Rare Earths says the extraction of the mineral from the dunes will be almost 90% renewable energy and far cheaper than common rare earth mining.

Phalaborwa could as well be a low-cost producer like Chinese producers, said Bennett.

“They went ahead and crushed it and milled it, and they put energy and heat into it – all that to make the phosphogypsum, which is what is required to make rare earths,” said Alberto Bruttomesso, the project director with Rainbow Rare Earths, referring to the procedures that the waste had previously passed through. The heating is the most costly part of the process, and it is indeed the most expensive thing.

It is well to be noted that the Trump administration has also invested in critical mineral mining in the US and has been looking for deals to guarantee access to these minerals abroad, such as in Ukraine. Greenland’s rare earths are part of why Trump has sought to buy the Arctic island.

The Phalaborwa project is one of a number of mineral projects located in Africa that DFC has an investment in.

The US is indeed trying to catch up in terms of investment in mining across the African continent, where China has been a dominant player in mining, said a mining specialist with the Nordic Africa Institute in Sweden, Patience Mususa.

The US Trade and Development Agency executed a formal agreement in February 2026 so as to provide USD 1.8 million for a feasibility evaluation at the Monte Muambe rare earths project located in Mozambique.

In Africa, the Trump administration also continues to provide US financial support for the Lobito Corridor, which apparently is a Biden administration project so as to build an 800-mile, or a 1,290-kilometre, railway that connects the mineral-rich parts of Congo and Zambia to the Atlantic coast of Africa.