Rock Tech Lithium and Siemens Canada have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to establish a strategic partnership focused on developing a state-of-the-art lithium conversion facility in Red Rock, Ontario. Announced during the Canadian Critical Minerals Forum at PDAC in Toronto, the collaboration will integrate Siemens’ digital twin technology into the design, construction, and operation of Rock Tech’s planned converter. This approach leverages the fully permitted Guben, Germany facility as a blueprint to shorten timelines, lower technical risk, and improve capital efficiency.
The Red Rock plant is designed to produce up to 32,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent per year, enough to support approximately 900,000 electric vehicles. By transferring proven engineering and permitting work from Guben, the project aims to bolster Canada’s domestic midstream capacity and strengthen critical minerals supply chains within G7 nations. Both companies plan to explore funding opportunities with Natural Resources Canada, the Ontario government, and bilateral cooperation programs to support deployment of digital twin solutions and further engineering work.
Mirco Wojnarowicz, CEO of Rock Tech, said the Red Rock facility would be Ontario’s first lithium converter and form part of a fully integrated corridor from the Georgia Lake mine project to battery-grade lithium products.
Faisal Kazi, CEO of Siemens Canada, highlighted the value of using virtual, data-driven modeling to optimize process design, energy flows, and emissions before major capital investment.
Parliamentary State Secretary Stefan Rouenhoff of Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy welcomed the agreement as a demonstration of deepening German-Canadian cooperation on secure, sustainable critical raw material supply chains. Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources noted that this initiative exemplifies the shift from strategic ambition to concrete action, reinforcing both economic resilience and national security.
The memorandum outlines a multi-phase framework, initially focusing on digital twin deployment during feasibility, engineering, and construction stages. Over the medium term, Rock Tech and Siemens will evaluate additional industrial digitalization solutions for the Red Rock converter and consider extending their collaboration to other critical minerals projects in G7 countries.
Source: PR Newswire
