Page 27 - InvestAlberta-EDA-2025

is dominated by mines in Russia, China and South Africa,
but Alberta is an emerging player because the metal can
also be recovered from oil sands waste products, which can
have less environmental impact in comparison to mining.
Invest Alberta attracts investment to the province,
supporting investors to expand into Alberta. In
collaboration with the Government of Alberta and
several Alberta-based energy businesses, Invest Alberta
works to harness these resources — the collaboration
between government and private sector is strong to
move files forward. By working together, they are
developing strategies to attract the investment and
technology needed to position Alberta at the forefront
of this growing industry.
In 2021, the Government of Alberta launched its Critical
Mineral Action Plan, “Renewing Alberta’s Mineral Future.”
This strategic blueprint outlines six key actions to secure
Alberta’s place as a global leader in critical minerals:
getting better geological data to attract exploration and
development, building a more competitive and transparent
investment framework, environmental stewardship,
collaboration with Indigenous communities, workforce
development and increasing awareness of Alberta as a
destination of choice for investment, innovation, and
development of the mineral value chain.
“Increased global demand for electric vehicles and
battery storage are going to lead to Alberta having another
resource to sell to the world,” said Brian Jean, Alberta’s
Minister of Energy and Minerals, at a press conference.
Alberta’s first lithium extraction project, led by E3
Lithium, exemplifies the province’s potential in critical
minerals innovation. Announced in 2024, the project
involves extracting lithium from brine naturally dissolved
in groundwater. This environmentally sustainable method
is supported by a $5 million investment from Alberta’s
Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER)
program and a $6.35 million investment from Imperial Oil.
“E3 is on the path to building a new industry in the
province. As we prove the technology at an increasing
scale, we increase the certainty that Alberta can be a
major lithium-producing jurisdiction,” E3 Lithium CEO
Chris Doornbos said in a press release. “This investment
not only supports E3 but also opens new opportunities
for the province and positions Alberta as a leader in
critical minerals innovation.”
On the investment side of the equation, Invest
Alberta is responsible for drumming up interest from
foreign investors and helping close deals that land
new projects in Alberta. This contributes to economic
diversification, job creation and increased global
competitiveness for the industry.
The organization has claimed $24.9 billion in major
project investments and created 33,385 jobs since 2020.
Many of these include developments in the aerospace,
manufacturing and technology sectors, all of which rely
on the critical minerals supply chain.
The province’s strategic partnerships extend
beyond its borders. In November 2023, for example,
Invest Alberta and the South Korean conglomerate,
POSCO Holdings, announced an agreement that will
see POSCO explore lithium projects in the province.
“Alberta’s strategic partnership with POSCO
paves the way for substantial advancement in lithium
production as demand for electric vehicles and lithium-
ion batteries grows significantly. This agreement is
a vote of confidence in Alberta’s ability to become a
global leader in this area,” Invest Alberta CEO Rick
Christiaanse said in a press release.
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