The need for critical minerals will skyrocket in the years to come, as part of the energy transition. To reduce dependence on China, which controls a large part of the sectors, France and Canada are stepping up their cooperation.
Benjamin Gallezot was appointed two years ago, made four trips to Canada and is already thinking about his fifth. The trips across the Atlantic by the French interministerial delegate for supplies of strategic minerals and metals illustrate the desire of the two countries to strengthen their cooperation to prepare for the energy transition.
Another illustration of this bilateral dialogue if any were needed, seven Canadian companies – at the forefront of the extraction of lithium brine or the production of very high purity aluminum – are staying in Paris this week. They are looking for French partners to go even further in innovation, via joint research and development projects.
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Innovation at the heart of the partnership
Innovation makes it possible to be more competitive, to develop mining and metallurgical sectors that are more environmentally friendly, and to save time, explains Benjamin Gallezot. For example, reducing prospecting times from 5 to 2 years. “ The projects take too long to implement in relation to the needs of the energy transition and these scheduling problems risk leading to a gap between supply and demand. », Explains the French representative.
The Europeans are late: mining production is increasing on all continents, except in Europe. The major players in mining are often Chinese and rarely European, recalls Didier Zimmermann, director of business development and fundraising, EIT Raw Materials. This is also true for refining. Hence Europe's desire to reduce its dependence on Chinewith the help of Canada in particular.
Canada dreams of itself as a world leader
Canada's objective is the same, with a broader, clearly stated ambition: to become a world leader in the production and supply of critical minerals.
The richness of the Canadian subsoil no longer needs to be proven, the country produces more than 60 minerals and metals, and has significant reserves of rare earths. To go further, the Canada simplified administrative procedures in 2022 and implemented tax incentives to facilitate the development of new mining projects.
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