German-Canadian critical minerals company Rock Tech Lithium Inc. announced a strategic partnership with Canadian industrial infrastructure platform company BMI Group Inc. to develop Rock Tech's lithium converter facility in Red Rock, Ontario.
The project seeks to build processing capacity in Canada, strengthening value creation, planning certainty and supply security for North American industrial off-takers. The BMI Group intends to invest about $144 million, as part of a broader equity structure to be finalized as the project advances. Rock Tech, together with additional partners, expects to contribute additional equity capital over time.
The companies expect to structure the partnership as a general partner/limited partner arrangement, with Rock Tech controlling the general partner and the BMI Group acting as the lead limited partner and anchor investor. Under the proposed structure, Rock Tech will retain full control and responsibility for project development, engineering and operations, as well as all key technical, commercial and strategic decision-making.
Initial Funding to Advance Site Development and Feasibility Study
To support near-term development activities, including a feasibility study, the parties intend to initiate a non-dilutionary funding program of up to $21.6 million, which is expected to include contributions of both partners and government funding programs, whereby each dollar contributed by Rock Tech shall be matched by the BMI Group and government funding.
This funding is targeted to advance engineering, environmental and permitting work and early site development activities in preparation for a final investment decision by end of 2026.
The Red Rock Converter is based on Rock Tech's Guben, Germany project which is fully engineered, fully permitted and designated as a strategic project under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act and where Rock Tech has invested nearly $47 million to date. Leveraging this proven design is expected to reduce development timelines and execution risk and transfer proven technical know-how to Canada.
Strategic Location and Infrastructure at Red Rock
The Red Rock Converter will be developed on the BMI Group's industrial site in Red Rock, Ontario, approximately 100 kilometers east of Thunder Bay and 60 kilometers south of Rock Tech's Georgia Lake lithium deposit. The 337-acre site benefits from established infrastructure, including approximately 120 MW of power capacity, access to natural gas, road connectivity and direct access to CPKC Rail's transcontinental mainline, supporting efficient movement of materials and equipment.
BMI Group's industrial infrastructure platform is designed to support large-scale project deployment, enabling streamlined site development and reducing timelines from permitting through to construction. By combining Rock Tech's lithium conversion expertise with BMI's industrial infrastructure platform and international investor network, the partnership strengthens the project's positioning within Canada's emerging critical minerals, industrial and defense supply chains.
Siemens Partnership to Deliver Digital Twin and Advanced Automation
At PDAC 2026, Canada's largest mining expo, Rock Tech signed a partnership agreement with Siemens to provide state-of-the-art industrial automation technology and a full digital twin for the Red Rock Converter. The digital twin, a real-time virtual replica of the plant, will enable continuous performance optimization, predictive maintenance and de-risked commissioning.
The integration of this technology underlines Rock Tech's commitment to delivering a world-class, future-proof industrial asset for Canada's critical minerals value chain, that is fully replicable to scale production with the growing North American lithium demand. These efforts support G7 critical minerals cooperation and position the Red Rock Converter as a reference project for sovereign, resilient, sustainable and scalable lithium conversion.
Strategic Significance for North America and Europe
Rock Tech is advancing an integrated lithium platform in Canada, linking upstream supply from its Georgia Lake project with downstream production at the Red Rock Converter. The project is positioned to establish a domestic, IRA- and CUSMA-aligned supply chain from mine to battery-grade lithium salts, strengthening Canada's critical minerals processing capacity and supporting the development of integrated North American and European supply chains.
The BMI Group's participation introduces a transatlantic investor base, including Dutch firm Business EQ Investments, aligned with the development of critical minerals infrastructure across Canada and Europe. Together, the partnership combines Rock Tech's lithium conversion expertise with BMI's industrial infrastructure platform and international investor relationships.
The advancement of the partnership remains subject to the negotiation of definitive agreements and the satisfaction of customary technical, financial and regulatory conditions.
