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Schneider Electric and Torngat Metals have signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding to explore an industrial partnership aimed at strengthening Canada's rare earth supply chain.

The proposed cooperation centers on the Strange Lake rare earth project in Nunavik, Quebec, with supporting infrastructure planned in Labrador and a future separation facility in Sept-Îles. The companies intend to examine opportunities covering resource development, industrial technology and downstream supply.

Schneider Electric is expected to contribute expertise in electrification, industrial automation, digital systems and sustainable industrial design, while Torngat Metals is developing Strange Lake as a potential source of heavy and light rare earth elements.

The partnership reflects growing industry attention on critical minerals required for permanent magnets, renewable energy equipment, electric motors, advanced manufacturing and digital infrastructure.

Rare earth elements have become increasingly important to the global energy transition. Permanent magnets containing rare earth materials are used in technologies ranging from wind turbines and electric motors to industrial automation equipment and robotics.

For mining operators, producing these materials efficiently requires more than extraction technology. Modern processing facilities depend on integrated electrical systems, process control, instrumentation, industrial networks and asset monitoring.

This creates a significant role for mining automation and digital process control. PLC and DCS systems, industrial communication networks and condition-monitoring technologies can help operators maintain stable processes while improving visibility across critical equipment.

The proposed partnership could also allow digital engineering to be considered earlier in the Strange Lake project lifecycle. Connecting engineering information with electrical, instrumentation and automation systems can reduce data duplication and provide a stronger foundation for future asset management.

Energy efficiency is another important consideration.

Rare earth extraction and processing can require substantial electrical power. Integrated power management, automation and industrial analytics can help operators monitor consumption, identify inefficient operating conditions and improve equipment performance.

Digital technologies may also support predictive maintenance once the facility enters operation. Combining equipment data with maintenance histories can help identify abnormal operating patterns and allow teams to address potential failures before they cause significant production interruptions.

However, the value of these systems depends on reliable data, suitable infrastructure and engineering expertise. Advanced analytics cannot deliver consistent results when field instrumentation, asset information or operational records are incomplete.

The agreement also has a strategic supply-chain dimension for Schneider Electric. Securing more reliable access to critical materials can help reduce exposure to concentrated supply networks as demand for electrification and automation technologies continues to grow.

Stéphane Piat, Schneider Electric's Senior Vice President of Global Supply Chain Strategy & Performance, said the cooperation supports the company's strategy of working with strategic partners while applying advanced energy technologies to more sustainable industrial processes.

For Torngat Metals, the relationship provides an opportunity to incorporate established industrial technology into a future mining and processing operation while connecting the project with potential downstream demand.

The development also illustrates a broader shift in the mining sector. New resource projects are increasingly being designed around automation, electrification, digital engineering and sustainability from the beginning rather than treating these technologies as upgrades after construction.

For industrial automation suppliers, this trend could create opportunities across PLC systems, DCS platforms, drives, sensors, electrical distribution and industrial communication infrastructure. More importantly, new critical-mineral projects demonstrate how closely mining technology is becoming linked to the wider industrial supply chain.

The Strange Lake project remains under development, and the MoU is non-binding. Further technical, commercial and project-development milestones will determine how the proposed partnership progresses.

Nevertheless, the agreement highlights the growing connection between critical minerals and industrial technology. As global manufacturers accelerate electrification and automation, securing the materials required for those technologies is becoming an increasingly important part of industrial strategy.

Written by: Daniel Mercer

Daniel Mercer is an industrial technology journalist with more than 13 years of experience covering mining automation, process control, electrical systems and industrial digitalization.