Minister Reinette Klever: “We are joining forces with Québec. For the Netherlands, it is important to diversify the supply of critical raw materials. Québec is rich in these resources. The Netherlands, in turn, has a favorable location and large ports that provide access to the rest of Northwestern Europe. Dutch entrepreneurs and knowledge institutions also possess unique expertise that can be utilized in the extraction and processing of critical raw materials. Overall, there are many opportunities for collaboration that both the Netherlands and Québec can benefit from.”
Working Groups
To translate the agreements into action, the Netherlands and Québec are establishing working groups. These will bring together governments and knowledge institutions to implement the agreement, in close consultation with the business community. Research collaboration and encouraging investments will be prioritized.
Critical Raw Materials in Québec
Québec is a key player in the field of critical raw materials: the province is rich in titanium, niobium, lithium, graphite, nickel, copper, and cobalt. 60% of the worlds mining companies are based in Canada. In Canada, mining falls under the jurisdiction of provincial authorities.
Trade Show on Critical Raw Materials
Minister Klever is in Canada from March 3 to 5 for the PDAC mining convention, one of the worlds largest mining trade shows held annually. Many critical raw materials are controlled by only a few players; thus, the Netherlands and Europe are reliant on a limited number of countries. These scarce natural metals and minerals are important for the economy and society. These resources are found in MRI scanners, iPhones, fighter jets, and solar panels.