Rock Tech Lithium Awarded $262,500 from Ontario's Critical Minerals Innovation Fund to Advance Made-in-Ontario Lithium Supply Chain
Rhea-AI Summary
Rock Tech Lithium (OTCQX:RCKTF) has been awarded $262,500 from Ontario's Critical Minerals Innovation Fund to evaluate crude tall oil, a by-product of the province's pulp and paper sector, as a potential locally sourced flotation reagent for lithium processing.
The CMIF-supported project, undertaken with Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper and Queen's University, aims to assess processing efficiency, localized reagent supply and potential cost optimization for Rock Tech's Georgia Lake Lithium Project, while supporting its broader Ontario mine-to-converter strategy and a made-in-Ontario lithium supply chain.
Positive
- $262,500 CMIF funding for crude tall oil flotation reagent evaluation
- Project supports potential processing efficiency and cost optimization at Georgia Lake
- Initiative aligns with Rock Tech's Ontario mine-to-converter supply chain strategy
- Second CMIF project, after ore sorting indicated up to 50% CAPEX reduction pathway
Negative
- Tall oil flotation benefits are preliminary and unvalidated, pending test work
- No new resource, reserve, or economic study results are provided
News Explained
The $262,500 award supports an early-stage reagent evaluation, with no completed processing change or updated economic study disclosed.
On
The project is intended to test whether a locally sourced pulp-and-paper by-product could be used in lithium processing and to generate information for later technical and economic optimization. The release does not disclose new test results, a mineral resource or reserve estimate, or a preliminary economic assessment, pre-feasibility study, or feasibility study.
Any processing, cost, emissions, or supply-chain benefits remain conditional on successful validation, further engineering, and incorporation into future project design.
News Market Reaction – RCKTF
In the Jul 13 session, RCKTF declined 2.56%, reflecting a moderate negative market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
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CMIF-supported project with Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper and Queen's University to evaluate locally sourced crude tall oil as a potential flotation reagent for lithium processing
Ontario's Critical Minerals Innovation Fund has awarded Rock Tech$262,500 Ontario's pulp and paper sector, as a potential flotation reagent for lithium processing, supporting supply chain development and cross-sector collaboration.- The project will be completed in collaboration with Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper and Queen's University, bringing together
Ontario -based industrial supply, critical minerals development and research expertise. - The project aims to connect
Ontario's forestry and critical minerals sectors by creating a potential new market for forestry-derived products in lithium processing. - The project is intended to evaluate whether locally sourced crude tall oil could support more localized reagent supply, provide data for future technical and economic optimization work and reduce reliance on imported or conventional processing inputs.
- The project is intended to evaluate whether locally sourced crude tall oil could, if successfully validated, support more localized and potentially lower-emission battery and critical minerals supply chains, including supply chains relevant to advanced manufacturing and energy storage applications, support future technical and economic optimization work and reduce reliance on imported or conventional processing inputs.
- The initiative supports Rock Tech's broader
Ontario mine-to-converter strategy, including the Georgia Lake Lithium Project and the proposed Red Rock Lithium Converter, strengthening a made-in-Ontario critical minerals supply chain while creating new opportunities across multiple sectors of the provincial economy. - This marks Rock Tech's second CMIF-supported initiative, following its previously announced ore sorting program, which identified a potential pathway to reduce future crushing and concentrator capital costs by up to
50% based on preliminary test work on representative Georgia Lake material and subject to further engineering, validation and integration into future technical studies. - This project will also evaluate further opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce operating costs and strengthen the economics of the Georgia Lake Project.
Crude tall oil may have potential application in mineral flotation processes used during processing to separate lithium-bearing minerals from waste rock, with the objective of improving processing efficiency while supporting a more localized supply chain by leveraging a pulp and paper by-product. This by-product produced by
Similar to Rock Tech's recently announced completion of its CMIF-supported ore sorting program (refer to Press Release – Rock Tech Advances Georgia Lake Lithium Project, Identifies Potential Pathway to Reduce Processing CAPEX by Up to 50 per cent, dated May 19, 2026), this project is designed to evaluate whether locally sourced crude tall oil could support future processing efficiency, reduce reliance on imported or conventional reagents and inform future cost-optimization work for the Georgia Lake Project.
Strengthening
The project arrives at an important moment for
The use of crude tall oil as a flotation reagent represents an opportunity to connect two strategically important
"We're proud to have the continued support of the Government of
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Government, Industry, and Research Working Together
With support from the Province of
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"This CMIF investment supports an ongoing collaboration between the Critical Minerals Processing Lab at Queen's University and Rock Tech, advancing lithium process development in
The project also highlights the growing opportunity to strengthen ties between
Supporting Rock Tech's Ontario Mine-to-Converter Strategy
The project forms part of Rock Tech's broader
Together, these projects are intended to support a vertically integrated, made-in-
TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE
The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Cameron Andrews, P.Eng., General Manager,
The project described in this news release is intended to evaluate crude tall oil, a by-product of
The reference to the Company's previously announced ore-sorting program and the potential pathway to reduce future crushing and concentrator capital costs by up to
About Rock Tech Lithium
Rock Tech is enabling the battery age by making the battery industries in Europe and North America more independent and competitive. The Company's goal is to ensure the supply of high-quality, locally produced lithium – supporting a resilient, sustainable, and transparent value chain from mine to battery-grade material.
Rock Tech relies on responsible sourcing, state-of-the-art and proven technologies, and a clear focus on circular economy principles. The Company's lithium converter projects in Guben, Germany (24,000 tonnes LHM per year) and Ontario, Canada (up to 32,000 tonnes LCE per year) form the foundation for a stable and regional supply to the battery and automotive industries. The Guben converter has been recognized as a Strategic Project under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act.
The raw materials for Rock Tech's converter projects are intended to be sourced exclusively from verifiably ESG-compliant suppliers. In Canada, Rock Tech relies, among other sources, on its wholly-owned Georgia Lake Project, which ensures a stable and sustainable supply for the North American market and is being developed in close partnership with local Indigenous communities. By integrating recycled materials, the Company aims to close the local battery loop.
With its facilities, Rock Tech intends to contribute to battery-grade material sovereignty and the achievement of climate targets. The company works in partnership with industry, policymakers, and community groups, and is committed to open communication and the highest environmental standards.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION:
Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" under applicable securities laws and are referred to herein as "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical fact, which address events, results, outcomes or developments that the Company expects to occur are forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, words such as "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "predicts", "believes", "estimates", "intends", "targets", "projects", "forecasts", "may", "will", "should", "would", "could" or negative versions thereof and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things: the receipt and use of funding from Ontario's Critical Minerals Innovation Fund; the completion, timing, scope and results of the crude tall oil evaluation project; the Company's collaboration with Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper, Queen's University and other project partners; the potential use of crude tall oil as a flotation reagent in lithium processing; the potential benefits of crude tall oil for processing efficiency, reagent supply, emissions, supply-chain localization, cost reduction and future technical and economic optimization work; the potential integration of the project results into future technical studies, engineering work or development plans for the Georgia Lake Lithium Project; the Company's previously announced ore-sorting program and the potential benefits thereof; the Company's broader Ontario mine-to-converter strategy, including the Georgia Lake Project and the proposed Red Rock Lithium Converter; the Company's proposed Guben and Ontario converter projects; the development of domestic and North American critical minerals supply chains; and the potential contribution of the Company's projects and initiatives to Ontario's battery, critical minerals, and advanced manufacturing and energy storage chains.
Forward‑looking information is based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions as of the date of this news release. Such assumptions include, without limitation: that the Company will receive and be able to apply the CMIF funding as anticipated; that the Company and its project partners will complete the planned test work as anticipated; that crude tall oil will be available in sufficient quantity and quality for testing; that crude tall oil may be capable of being evaluated as a potential reagent in lithium flotation applications; that test work results may be capable of being assessed for potential integration into future technical studies; that additional engineering, metallurgical and economic analysis will support continued development of the Georgia Lake Project; that required regulatory, environmental and other approvals will be obtained in a timely manner; that contractors, suppliers, equipment, project partners and technical personnel will be available on reasonable terms; that financing will be available to support the Company's development plans; and that market conditions, including lithium prices and demand for battery materials, will remain supportive of project development.
Neither the TSX venture exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX venture exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
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SOURCE Rock Tech Lithium Inc.