Strengthening North America’s Critical Minerals Supply Chain: Rio Tinto and Canada Growth Fund Partner for Scandium Production

Rio Tinto, in collaboration with the Canada Growth Fund (CGF), has announced a significant investment to advance domestic scandium oxide production in Canada. This initiative aims to fortify the future of critical minerals in North America.

The strategic move involves a C$25 million investment from the Canada Growth Fund — a C$15 billion independent investment initiative that operates autonomously from the Government of Canada. The funding will support the expansion of Rio Tinto’s scandium oxide facility, currently under construction at the company’s critical minerals and metallurgical complex in Sorel-Tracy, Québec.

Upon completion, the facility will increase its nameplate capacity to nine tonnes of scandium oxide per year, making it the only one of its kind in North America. This enhanced production capacity is expected to significantly boost Canada’s critical minerals supply chain, supporting various industries, including aerospace, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing.

This partnership reflects a broader national and global urgency to secure key resources required for high-performance alloys and emerging technologies, while reducing dependency on international supply chains.