German-Canadian Raw Materials Alliance Strengthens Supply Security – Enertrag and Rock Tech Rely on Green Power
Berlin/Dauerthal (Germany) – Germany and Canada are significantly expanding their cooperation on critical raw materials. A new government-level partnership aims to stabilize supply chains, reduce import dependencies, and improve supply security. Companies like Enertrag and Rock Tech are also advancing the decarbonization of strategic industries through cross-border projects.
Germany and Canada Rely on Strategic Raw Materials Alliances
Germany and Canada are aiming to intensify their cooperation in the supply of critical raw materials. The focus is on jointly building resilient, sustainable, and transparent supply chains. At a meeting in Berlin, German Minister for Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche and her Canadian counterpart Tim Hodgson signed a joint declaration on a raw materials partnership.
“Germany and Canada are sending a clear signal today: We are deepening our economic cooperation and strengthening the supply security and competitiveness of our industry through a close partnership on critical raw materials,” said Reiche. The goal is to complement existing measures such as raw materials funds, credit guarantees, and recycling initiatives through targeted bilateral cooperation.
Canada is one of the world’s leading producers of critical raw materials such as lithium, nickel, graphite, and rare earths. These materials are essential for batteries, electric motors, wind turbines, or medical devices. A central aspect of the partnership is the support of joint industrial projects. Other key areas of cooperation include collaboration on processing technologies and enhanced networking between companies from both countries.
As part of the agreement between Germany and Canada, three MoUs were signed between companies from both countries – including the partnership between Rock Tech Lithium and Enertrag.
Rock Tech and Enertrag Launch Cross-Border Green Power Partnership
A concrete example of the deepened German-Canadian collaboration is the strategic cooperation between the energy company Enertrag and the German-Canadian lithium producer Rock Tech. Under the MoU, the two companies agreed on the long-term supply of renewable electricity for the planned lithium hydroxide converter in Guben.
Starting in 2030, Enertrag aims to supply at least 70 GWh of electricity per year from new wind and solar farms located in the neighboring Polish municipality of Gubin. This would cover at least 50% of the converter’s electricity needs. The project is expected to significantly reduce the plant’s indirect CO₂ emissions (Scope 2).
Rock Tech CEO Mirco Wojnarowicz stated: “With the planned direct supply of our converter with renewable energy, we are setting an important milestone for the sustainable and competitive production of lithium hydroxide in Europe. The partnership with ENERTRAG is an important example of how industry and energy producers can work together in a practical way to decarbonize the value chain.”
The Guben plant is considered a strategic project under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act. It also serves as a model for a similar project in Ontario, Canada. Both sites aim to contribute to the sustainable supply of the European and North American battery and automotive industries in the future.
Enertrag board member Dr. Gunar Hering emphasized: “We are focusing on innovative solutions such as direct electricity supply from new wind and solar parks in Gubin and the use of process heat through sector coupling. The project with Rock Tech is a milestone for the cross-border energy transition and highlights the role of the Lausitz-area in Brandenburg as the future region for sustainable industry.”
Outlook: A Model for Transatlantic Decarbonization
The cooperation between Rock Tech and Enertrag illustrates how a close partnership on critical raw materials can strengthen both supply security and competitiveness. According to the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, the main focus is on promoting joint raw materials projects, advancing processing technologies, and fostering sustainable business networks.
The implementation of the projects still depends on final investment decisions but is being closely supported both politically and economically. With this alliance between governments and businesses, Germany and Canada are underscoring their ambition to reduce dependency on geopolitically sensitive supply chains and to actively shape a climate-friendly raw material supply.
Source: IWR Online, Aug 08 2025