Schneider Electric and Torngat Metals Partner to Build Strategic Rare Earth Supply Chain
Global energy management and automation leader Schneider Electric and Canadian rare earth developer Torngat Metals have signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at exploring a broad industrial partnership focused on creating a secure, responsible, and resilient rare earth elements value chain. The agreement centers on the advancement of the Strange Lake rare earth project in northern Canada and reflects growing efforts among industry leaders to establish reliable critical mineral supply networks that can support the global energy transition.
The collaboration is expected to connect multiple stages of the rare earth supply chain, from resource extraction and processing to technology deployment and industrial end-use applications. By combining Torngat Metals’ resource development capabilities with Schneider Electric’s expertise in electrification, automation, digital technologies, and sustainable industrial solutions, the two companies intend to create an integrated framework capable of supporting future demand for critical minerals.
At the heart of the proposed partnership is the Strange Lake project, located in Nunavik, Québec, with supporting infrastructure planned in Labrador and a future rare earth separation facility in Sept-Îles, Québec. The project is considered one of the most significant rare earth development opportunities in North America and is expected to play an important role in strengthening domestic and allied supply chains for strategic minerals.
Rare earth elements have become increasingly important as nations and industries accelerate investments in clean energy technologies, electric transportation, advanced manufacturing, and digital infrastructure. These materials are critical ingredients in the production of permanent magnets used in wind turbines, electric vehicle motors, robotics, industrial automation systems, and a wide range of high-tech applications.
Under the MOU, the companies will examine opportunities to establish what they describe as a comprehensive “360-degree partnership.” The proposed collaboration has two primary objectives. First, it seeks to support the design and development of a next-generation mining and mineral processing operation by incorporating advanced industrial technologies that can enhance sustainability, efficiency, and operational performance. Second, it aims to improve Schneider Electric’s long-term supply chain resilience by facilitating access to a secure and responsible source of rare earth materials and associated magnet technologies required for future industrial applications.
As industries around the world work to reduce emissions and expand electrification, securing access to critical minerals has become a strategic priority. Governments, manufacturers, and technology companies are increasingly seeking alternatives to concentrated supply chains and looking for projects that can provide transparent, environmentally responsible sources of key materials.
Frederick Morency, Vice President of Sustainability, Strategic Initiatives and Innovation for Schneider Electric Canada, emphasized the importance of critical minerals in enabling the global energy transition.
According to Morency, the shift toward cleaner energy systems depends not only on technological innovation but also on reliable access to the raw materials necessary to manufacture those technologies. He noted that the partnership with Torngat Metals is designed to create a fully integrated approach that links resource development directly to industrial demand, helping strengthen both project execution and long-term supply security.
Morency added that collaborations of this nature demonstrate how industrial companies can work together to establish trusted supply chains capable of supporting economic growth, technological advancement, and sustainability objectives simultaneously.
The agreement was signed in Paris during a high-level international meeting focused on financing critical mineral supply chains among G7 nations and other like-minded countries. The event brought together government representatives, industry executives, and stakeholders working to accelerate investment in strategic mineral projects and strengthen supply chain cooperation among allied economies.
The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Sébastien Martin, France’s 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. Their participation underscored the increasing importance that governments are placing on securing access to critical minerals needed for future economic competitiveness and energy security.
Torngat Metals believes the Strange Lake project can become a cornerstone of a new generation of responsible rare earth production. Maryse Bélanger, Interim Chief Executive Director and President of the Board of Torngat Metals, said the company’s vision extends beyond developing a mining operation.
She explained that the goal is to create an integrated value chain capable of supplying strategically important rare earth materials while adhering to high standards of sustainability and environmental responsibility. By partnering with Schneider Electric, Torngat Metals expects to gain access to advanced industrial technologies that can improve future operations and support efficient project development.
Bélanger also highlighted the importance of connecting upstream mineral production with downstream industrial demand. Establishing these links early in the project lifecycle can help create stronger market certainty while supporting the development of a complete supply chain ecosystem. She described the partnership as an opportunity to build not simply a mine, but a future-ready industrial platform that contributes to broader economic and technological objectives.
For Schneider Electric, the collaboration aligns closely with its global supply chain strategy. The company has increasingly focused on strengthening resilience across its manufacturing and procurement networks, particularly as demand rises for technologies that support electrification, digitization, and decarbonization.
Stéphane Piat, Senior Vice President of Global Supply Chain Strategy and Performance at Schneider Electric, said the partnership reflects the company’s commitment to working with strategic partners to advance sustainability and operational efficiency. He noted that Schneider Electric’s industrial technologies can help optimize processes throughout the mining and processing lifecycle while reducing environmental impacts and improving performance.
Piat further emphasized that access to critical minerals is becoming increasingly important for maintaining robust and adaptable supply chains. By supporting projects such as Strange Lake, Schneider Electric aims to help secure the availability of essential materials needed for future industrial growth while enhancing supply chain resilience in a rapidly evolving global marketplace.
The collaboration comes at a time when governments and businesses worldwide are accelerating efforts to establish domestic and allied sources of critical minerals. Schneider Electric Concerns about supply concentration, geopolitical risks, and rising demand for clean energy technologies have elevated rare earth elements to a strategic priority across multiple sectors.
If successfully developed, the Strange Lake project could provide a significant source of both heavy and light rare earth elements. These materials are expected to play a crucial role in supporting the expansion of renewable energy systems, advanced electronics, electric vehicles, industrial automation technologies, and other applications central to the low-carbon economy.
Beyond resource development, the partnership seeks to demonstrate how digitalization, electrification, and sustainability principles can be integrated throughout the entire project lifecycle. From initial design and engineering through construction and future operations, both companies aim to establish new benchmarks for responsible mining and industrial development.
As demand for critical minerals continues to grow globally, the Schneider Electric–Torngat Metals collaboration represents a significant step toward building a transparent, secure, and sustainable rare earth ecosystem. By linking resource extraction, advanced industrial technologies, and downstream manufacturing needs, the proposed partnership could help strengthen North America’s position in the rapidly evolving critical minerals landscape while supporting the broader transition to a more electrified and sustainable future.
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