Presentation — Québec reaffirms its position as a key player in critical and strategic minerals with the launch of a traceability pilot project

The Minister of Natural Resources and Forests and Minister responsible for the Bas-Saint-Laurent region and the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine region, M^me Maïté Blanchette Vézina announces financial support of $346,000 to Propulsion Québec to support the implementation of a pilot project for the traceability of critical and strategic minerals (CSM) needed for battery manufacturing.

In the current context with the United States, it is all the more important to reiterate that Quebec is an essential player in CSM. The pilot project will demonstrate the value placed on Quebec's minerals.

Pilot project

In a context where some countries are seeking to adopt regulations in the battery sector, including Europe with the introduction of the battery passport as of 2027, Quebec wishes to act proactively on CSM traceability in order to confirm its position as a leader in this value chain. By combining its natural resources and its cutting-edge expertise, Quebec has everything it needs to stand out at each stage of this sector’s supply chain.

The project will collect key data on CSM found in battery materials and components in order to demonstrate their responsible origin and low carbon footprint. The initiative will be aligned with best practices and international standards.

As part of the pilot project, the Quebec platform Optchain from Groupe OPTEL, the implementation partner, will be adapted and deployed as a traceability tool in six companies in Quebec’s battery value chain, including mining companies. This proven technology, meeting the highest standards in environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria, will allow real-time tracking of information related to CSM throughout the supply chain, from extraction to their integration into battery components, including recycling.

Quotes

"The current geopolitical context pushes us to think outside the box for our natural resources. With a system based on transparency of its supply chains and demonstrating that the highest ESG standards are met, Quebec will be able to distinguish itself from its competitors on the world stage. This will also stimulate the growth of our battery sector and attract additional investment. Best of luck to Propulsion Québec with this pilot project!"

"The future of electric transport relies on innovative and responsible solutions. This funding will allow us to demonstrate that, in a complex geopolitical context, the ability to trace the origin of the critical and strategic minerals (CSM) used in batteries will be an indispensable strategic asset. Quebec will thus be able to meet global expectations and inspire new practices with some of the most demanding ESG standards."

Highlights

More specifically, this pilot project aims to:

contribute to the development of a strategy for the traceability of CSM contained in battery materials and components to increase the maturity of the Quebec ecosystem and make it ready to meet upcoming regulatory requirements, and those of customers, regarding data sharing;
facilitate access to a traceability platform for companies in the Quebec battery sector so that they can provide data to their customers and demonstrate the added value of their responsible and innovative practices;
facilitate collaboration among the various actors in the battery value chain;
reconcile, in view of the future European battery passport, data and indicators tracked by the "Vers le développement minier durable" initiative of the Mining Association of Canada, and by the Global Battery Alliance internationally.

The Action Plan 2023-2025 of the Quebec Plan for the Valorization of Critical and Strategic Minerals (PQVMCS) 2020-2025 has among its objectives to "encourage the implementation of initiatives aimed at reducing the environmental footprint of the mining sector." To achieve this objective, Action 3.2.2 of the Action Plan provides for the creation of tools necessary for the traceability of CSM.

Propulsion Québec, the industry cluster for electric and intelligent transportation (TEI), is a non-profit organization whose mission is to accelerate the growth of Quebec's zero-emission land transportation industry and to strengthen its international competitiveness. It was created in 2017 and today has more than 210 members among companies and organizations in the TEI ecosystem.

Source

Émilie Savard
Press attaché
Office of the Minister of Natural Resources and Forests, Minister responsible for the Bas-Saint-Laurent region and the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine region
Tel.: 367 990-8473
emilie.savard@mrnf.gouv.qc.ca