Canada's critical minerals

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Responsibly
Sourcing
Minerals.
Supporting
the Energy
Transition.

With a critical minerals industry rooted in over a hundred years of history, Canada has played a key role in producing, processing, and recycling the critical minerals key to the global energy transition.

As demand for these minerals increases, Canada can continue to play that role, responsibly sourcing the commodities that can help support energy transition technologies and infrastructure with an industry that creates family-supporting jobs and contributes to local communities.

34 Canadian minerals and metals have been designated as critical by the Canadian federal government. Learn more about some of them below.
What Are Canada’s Major Critical Minerals?

Copper was the first metal used by humans more than 10,000 years ago. Today, it’s a key mineral in our renewable energy transition.

Copper can be used to power everyday technologies like electronics, wiring, solar panels, and electric vehicles (EVs).
Canada produces and recycles hundreds of thousands of tonnes of copper annually – supporting efforts to help the energy transition in Canada and globally.

Copper

Nickel is often used in manufacturing stainless steel products produced across Canada and helps enable renewable energy technologies like wind and solar power.

100% recyclable, nickel can be a key component in a diverse range of uses – from healthcare to building infrastructure like bridges.
Nickel helps connect the world through its use in the manufacturing of EV batteries, transportation, communications, and energy technologies.

Nickel

Zinc helps support the steel, agricultural, and health industries.

From its use in sunscreen to crops, zinc is an important part of our everyday lives.
Zinc also supports building the infrastructure needed to facilitate the energy transition.

zinc

Other official critical minerals like platinum, aluminum, cobalt, and tellurium are also important to the energy transition.

Cobalt is a mineral that can be used to develop renewable energy technologies, including as a cathode for lithium batteries and is integral to the manufacturing of some EVs.
Minerals like aluminum and tellurium can help build energy transition infrastructure including wind turbines and solar photovoltaic technology for solar panels, which can support the energy transition.

& Many More

Responsibly Sourcing the Minerals of Tomorrow

Across the country, Canada is the responsible producer of critical minerals like copper, nickel, and zinc that are contributing to the energy transition.

Canada strives to responsibly source the commodities that advance everyday life by:

Electrifying operations to make mining safer and more efficient for workers

Investing in projects that reduce emissions

Improving transportation networks

Prioritizing partnerships with Indigenous communities

By prioritizing a responsible commodities supply chain, Canada can play a key role in the global energy transition.

Learn more about what Canada and companies like Glencore are doing to support the future of the country’s critical minerals industry.
1
battery-electric vehicles

Investments in government decarbonization incentive programs towards EVs and equipment have supported projects like the Onaping Depth Project, an underground nickel mine under construction in Sudbury, which aims to reduce heat and noise pollution and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Using autonomous EV technology is also helping to reduce diesel emissions and noise for workers underground and improve ergonomics for operators who can work comfortably above ground. As industry technology evolves, so will Canadian mining’s approach to safety and efficiency.

2
Indigenous communities

Companies like Glencore work towards upholding partnerships with Indigenous communities in Canada and foster collaboration with Indigenous groups with respect for cultural heritage. Programs like Tamatumani (or “second start” in Inuktitut) contribute to the training and hiring of Nunavimmiut employees, and operations like Raglan Mine lead the way as one of the first operations in Canada to sign an Impact Benefit Agreement (IBA) with local Inuit communities.

Other Ontario operations work closely with Indigenous rights holders and communities on resource development agreements, species monitoring programs, and more, striving to uphold relationships built on mutual respect, integrity, and transparency.

3
circular supply chain

Closing the loop on the minerals that Canada produces is key to a more responsible, circular supply chain, and companies like NorFalco are supporting these efforts.

Smelting by-products, like sulfuric acid, are repurposed for important agricultural products like fertilizer, used to produce potable water and clean wastewater, and used in the recycling of car and electronics batteries, which can contribute to a more sustainable manufacturing industry in North America.

4
Transition-Enabling Resources

While not listed as a critical mineral in Canada, steelmaking coal is a key transition-enabling commodity that is a necessary input material for steel, which can support the global transportation and energy transition infrastructure of the future.

Steelmaking coal operations like Elk Valley Resources in British Columbia support the responsible sourcing of materials needed for steel, which can be used to build the ships, rail, bridges, and wind turbines of tomorrow.

Closing the Loop on E-Waste

Did you know?

Electronic waste from everyday products like home wiring, cell phones, tablets, and more is recycled right here in Canada.

As e-waste generation continues to rise, responsible recycling of end-of-life electronic equipment is key in building a circular economy. Glencore operations like the Horne Smelter in Quebec recycles thousands of tonnes of electronic waste every year, which can help support a more sustainable global critical minerals future.

Navigating the Energy Transition

Critical minerals like copper, nickel, and zinc are “Made-in-Canada” resources that can help support the world’s energy transition ambitions.

Learn more about why mining these minerals matter and what companies like Glencore are doing to responsibly source the commodities that advance everyday life.
Learn More at glencore.ca
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