The electric vehicle supply chain offers significant economic potential for Canadian workers and businesses, spanning from mining critical minerals to manufacturing cars and batteries, as well as recycling efforts. With the International Energy Agency projecting that demand for critical minerals will double by 2030, Canada is committed to developing robust domestic value chains for these essential resources.
Mark Gerretsen, MP for Kingston and the Islands, announced nearly $8.4 million in funding for Cyclic Materials Incorporated (Cyclic Materials) and Green Graphite Technologies Inc. (GGT) through the Critical Minerals Research, Development and Demonstration (CMRDD) program. This investment aims to foster a circular economy for rare earth elements and support graphite recycling for lithium-ion batteries within Canada.
Cyclic Materials will establish a demonstration plant that utilizes proprietary physical and hydrometallurgical processes to produce high-purity mixed rare earth oxides and cobalt-nickel mixed hydroxide from recycled materials. Rare earth elements are crucial for high-value applications, particularly in permanent magnets used in electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, and various electronics. The project will validate operational conditions to pave the way for future commercial scaling, enhancing Canada’s recycling capabilities and reducing reliance on imported minerals. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is contributing $4.9 million to support this initiative.
Meanwhile, GGT plans to demonstrate its GraphRenew™ technology, which aims to sustainably recover and transform graphite from secondary sources into battery-grade material. The upgraded graphite will undergo performance testing in battery cells, with larger quantities being sent to major manufacturers for certification. This project will address significant gaps in the lithium-ion battery industry, focusing on recycling and upgrading spent graphite, ultimately enhancing the circularity of the graphite supply chain. NRCan is providing $3.5 million for GGT’s efforts.
Across Canada, workers and businesses are rapidly capitalizing on the economic opportunities presented by critical minerals and the electric vehicle supply chain. Investments like these will generate quality jobs and strengthen the economy in Kingston, Ontario and beyond.
