Noticias

Schneider Electric and Torngat Metals have signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding to explore a strategic partnership supporting the development of a resilient rare earth supply chain in Canada.

The agreement centers on the Strange Lake rare earth project in Nunavik, Quebec, with related infrastructure planned in Labrador and a proposed separation facility in Sept-Îles. The companies said the partnership is intended to connect mining, processing, industrial technology and future downstream demand.

Schneider Electric will bring expertise in electrification, industrial automation, digital systems and sustainable industrial design to the proposed mining and processing development.

Strange Lake is notable among North American rare earth projects for its concentration of heavy rare earth elements, particularly dysprosium and terbium. These materials are important in high-performance permanent magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, advanced manufacturing and defence applications.

An earlier resource estimate for the project's B-zone deposit reported indicated resources of 278.1 million tonnes grading 0.93% total rare earth oxides (TREO), alongside 1.92% zirconium oxide and 0.18% niobium pentoxide. Inferred resources were estimated at 214.4 million tonnes grading 0.85% TREO.

The figures underline the potential scale of the development and its relevance to North America's efforts to establish more secure sources of critical minerals.

For the future processing operation, mining automation and digital process control are expected to be important elements. Large-scale mineral facilities require coordinated electrical systems, PLC and control infrastructure, instrumentation, industrial communications and equipment monitoring to maintain stable production.

Schneider Electric's industrial technology portfolio includes automation, power management and control solutions that can support these types of applications. Its wider automation ecosystem also includes industrial drives, control platforms and connected digital technologies.

The role of electrification is particularly significant because mineral extraction and processing can be energy-intensive. Better integration between electrical infrastructure and automation can help operators monitor energy consumption, manage equipment loads and improve overall process efficiency.

Digital systems may also provide a foundation for predictive maintenance and asset performance management. By combining equipment information with operational data, maintenance teams can identify abnormal conditions earlier and reduce the risk of unexpected failures.

The proposed partnership is also designed to address supply-chain resilience from Schneider Electric's perspective. Rare earth elements are increasingly important to technologies associated with electrification and industrial automation, making reliable access to these materials strategically significant for manufacturers.

Frederick Morency, Schneider Electric Canada's Vice President of Sustainability, Strategic Initiatives & Innovation, said the energy transition depends not only on technology but also on secure and responsible access to critical materials.

Torngat Metals Interim CEO Maryse Bélanger said the company sees Strange Lake as an opportunity to develop a complete, future-ready rare earth value chain rather than simply a mining operation.

The MoU was signed in Paris during a meeting focused on financing critical mineral supply chains among G7 and like-minded countries. The announcement brought together representatives from the French government and Natural Resources Canada.

The proposed cooperation reflects a wider shift in the mining industry, where automation, electrification, digital engineering and sustainability are increasingly being considered during the early stages of major resource projects.

For equipment suppliers and industrial automation companies, new critical-mineral developments could create demand for PLC systems, DCS platforms, industrial drives, sensors, electrical equipment and communication technologies.

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

Nevertheless, the agreement highlights the growing connection between critical minerals and industrial technology as North American companies seek more resilient supply chains for the materials needed to support electrification, advanced manufacturing and the broader energy transition.

Written by: Daniel Mercer

Daniel Mercer is an industrial technology journalist with more than 13 years of experience covering mining automation, process control, electrification and critical infrastructure. His work focuses on how automation technologies are reshaping resource-intensive industries.