Forging partnerships with Inuit, First Nations and local communities in Canada, along with industrial companies involved in manufacturing, Quebec-based Torngat Metals is building a network of alliances aimed at furthering its rare earths to magnets value chain centered around Strange Lake in the eastern reaches of the province. The Strange Lake project is expected to produce both heavy and light rare earth elements essential to permanent magnets used in renewable energy, digital infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing.
Its latest industrial alliance was announced in June with Schneider Electric. The two parties signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to explore a strategic partnership. The MOU is intended to support the development of a 360° partnership, with a dual objective: to support the development of a next-generation mining and processing project, leveraging Schneider Electric’s expertise in electrification, automation, digital systems and sustainable industrial design; and to strengthen Schneider Electric’s long-term supply chain resilience, through access to a more secure, responsible and compliant rare earth and magnet ecosystem for strategic applications.
“This partnership reflects a clear reality: the energy transition depends not only on technology, but on secure and responsible access to critical materials,” said Frederick Morency, VP, Sustainability, Strategic Initiatives & Innovation for Schneider Electric Canada. “With Torngat Metals, we are aiming for a fully integrated approach, from resource to industrial use, that strengthens both project development and long-term supply resilience. It is a concrete example of how industrial players can come together to build trusted supply chains.”
The MOU was signed in Paris on the margins of the High-Level Meeting on Financing Critical Minerals Supply Chains in G7 and Like-Minded Countries. The announcement was made in the presence of Sébastien Martin, French Minister Delegate for Industry, and Isabella Chan, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister at Natural Resources Canada and Canada’s Special Envoy for the Critical Minerals Production Alliance.
“Strange Lake is designed to become a key player in building a resilient and responsible rare earth supply chain,” said Maryse Bélanger, Interim Chief Executive Director and President of the Board, Torngat Metals. “Working with Schneider Electric will enable us to integrate world-class industrial technology designed with sustainability in mind in our future operations, while connecting our project to real downstream demand. This is an opportunity to build not just a mine, but a complete, future-ready value chain.”
“This partnership illustrates how we collaborate with our strategic partners, sharing our advanced energy technologies to enable more sustainable and efficient processes,” said Stéphane Piat, SVP, Global Supply Chain Strategy & Performance for Schneider Electric. “Torngat Metals supports our resilience strategy by securing the availability of the critical materials essential to an antifragile supply chain.” By embedding sustainability, efficiency and digital performance across the project lifecycle, from design through operations, the partnership aims to set new standards for responsible resource development.
Another supply chain deal came In October 2025 when Torngat signed a ten-year offtake agreement with Carester to supply separated heavy rare earths, specifically containing dysprosium and terbium to Carester’s subsidiary Caremag, which operates a rare earth recycling and separation plant currently being built in Lacq, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France. This followed an offtake deal made with Vacuumschmelze in August 2025.
Associated infrastructure is planned in Labrador and a separation facility in Sept-Îles, opening to the St. Lawrence River and North Atlantic Ocean. Last year Torngat made a CA$110 million bridge loan facility agreement with Export Development Canada, and a loan commitment of up to CA$55 million from the Canada Infrastructure Bank, to support the project. For more info, see www.torngatmetals.com.
