Investing in the mining sector

Québec’s mining sector is a thriving market. Between 2019 and 2024, more than 40 mining projects produced a new technical-economic study, and exploration and development expenditures for critical and strategic minerals increased by 274%. Private investment in the sector totalled more than $6 billion in 2024. Find out why you should choose Québec’s mining sector.

Québec has significant mineral potential. Approximately 30 substances are produced and developed in the province, making it the most diverse mineral production in Canada.

With an area of 1.2 million square kilometres accessible for mining development, Québec has:

• over 20 active mines;
• over 50 mining projects that reached the development stage;
• over 1,100 mineral exploration projects.

Québec contributes to supplying critical and strategic minerals, since it produces nickel, niobium, graphite, copper, zinc, cobalt and platinum group elements, and mining projects are underway for vanadium, rare earth elements, tantalum and phosphate.

Québec’s history and track record has received widespread attention:

• 1^st in Canada to launch a plan for the development of critical and strategic minerals;
• 1^st producer of high-purity scandium oxide and gallium in North America;
• 1^st producer of niobium in the Northern Hemisphere;
• 1^st producer of graphite, lithium and high-purity iron in Canada;
• Over 50% of lithium projects in Canada.

To take full advantage of the potential for critical and strategic minerals, Québec relies on the development of integrated supply chains that cover the entire value cycle from exploration and extraction through processing, recycling and marketing. With a diversified mineral potential, eight mines producing CSMs, nearly thirty mining projects targeting these substances and more than twenty primary processing plants using Québec mineral resources as a raw material, Québec has the resources and expertise to support the development of integrated sectors. In addition to active plants processing several Québec ores, including copper, zinc, titanium slag, scandium oxide, silicon and ferroniobium, projects under development or construction are aimed at processing lithium, graphite, apatite, nickel and rare earths.

The Gouvernement du Québec favours carrying out economic development projects and investments by maintaining a more attractive and competitive business environment for foreign investors, which is based on:

• an advantageous tax system;
• a stable and predictable legal framework;
• a willingness to facilitate project delivery;
• a skilled workforce;
• support for research and innovation;
• a vast infrastructure network.

Québec stands out for its commitment to mining development that respects the highest environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards. This commitment is built on:

• clean and renewable energy;
• social acceptability at the core of projects;
• treaties and partnerships with Indigenous Nations;
• circular economy principles integrated into value chains.

Stay up to date by subscribing to the Connecting with Québec Mining newsletter!