Germany, Quebec sign minerals deals to bolster supply chains

BERLIN, March 3 - Germany and Quebec strengthened their critical minerals partnership on Tuesday, signing a joint declaration and four corporate agreements at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) mining conference in Toronto.

The deals, announced by Germany's economy ministry, aim to bolster supply chains for materials key to industries such as electric vehicles, defense and renewable energy. Quebec, a leading mining hub in Canada, is viewed as an important supplier of lithium, graphite, nickel and rare earth elements.

Here are some details from the statement:
• The joint declaration on critical minerals was signed at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada mining conference in Toronto, the economy ministry said in the statement.
• The ministry said the agreements aim to strengthen supply chains for materials vital to electric vehicles, defence and renewable energy industries.
• Rock Tech Lithium and Siemens Canada signed a memorandum of understanding.
• Scandium Canada and Granges Powder Metallurgy agreed on a technology collaboration.
• Destiny Copper and thyssenkrupp Marine Systems concluded a memorandum of understanding.
• Metalshub and Northern Graphite established a partnership on raw materials trading.
• The ministry said the agreements mark "a strong and tangible signal" that the partnership is progressing and that they provide concrete projects and binding commitments.