Canadian pre-production mining company Frontier Lithium said the governments of Ontario and Canadian intend to financially support the company's planned lithium conversion facility in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
The combined government contributions would cover a "significant" portion of the expected capital expenditures needed to build the facility, Frontier said Tuesday.
The company did not disclose details on the government investments and has not said how much the project is expected to cost.
The plant would convert lithium from Frontier's PAK mine project to about 20,000 metric tonnes (t)/yr of lithium salts.
Mining and processing lithium domestically will help counter tariffs imposed this week on Canadian exports by US president Donald Trump, said Vic Fedeli, Canada minister of economic development, job creation and trade.
"The frontline of our battle against Donald Trump's tariffs starts in northern Ontario with our abundant supply of critical minerals," Fedeli said. "Our government is working with Frontier Lithium and the federal government to protect Ontario workers and jobs by mining and refining our critical minerals right here in Ontario."
