$13 million to support COREM's activities : THE QUÉBEC MINING ASSOCIATION WELCOMES THE SUPPORT PROVIDED FOR MINING R&D BY THE QUÉBEC GOVERNMENT
12/04/2017
Québec City, April 12, 2017 – "By securing funding for COREM over the next five years and supporting the development of its hydometallurgy platform, the Québec government is helping to diversify Québec's mineral sector and confirming the leadership role of this world-class research centre," says Josée Méthot, president and CEO of the Québec Mining Association (QMA), following the announcement of $13 million in funding for COREM.
According to the QMA, innovation is one of the key ways for reducing costs for mining companies, and COREM, the largest organization in Canada entirely dedicated to R&D in the field of minerals processing, has been making a significant contribution for almost 50 years. "Québec's mining sector must be able to rely on an effective R&D centre to test innovative new technologies and increase its productivity and competitiveness. This is what COREM provides, and this is why mining companies are proud to contribute 80% of its funding," Ms. Méthot continues.
The government's investment in the hydrometallurgy platform will also drive the development of new mineral products such as lithium, rare earth elements and graphite. "By diversifying Québec's mineral sector, without neglecting the metals traditionally mined here, we can ensure Québec's position on the world stage," concludes Josée Méthot, who points out that COREM's activities have helped support the development of new mine projects, including those of Arianne Phosphate in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region, Mine Arnaud and Mason Graphite on the North Shore, Nemaska Lithium in the Nord-du-Québec region and Matamec Exploration in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region.
Québec's mining industry in figures:
- 45,550 direct, indirect and induced jobs created or maintained
- Total expenditure of $5.8 billion
- A network of 4,100 suppliers
- Over $1 billion paid each year to the Québec government
About the Québec Mining Association
The Québec Mining Association (QMA) was founded in 1936 and speaks proactively for mining companies involved in exploration, extraction and processing, mining contractors and junior mining companies, along with suppliers, institutions, non-profit organizations and other mining sector partners.
It is proud of the 45,550 jobs and total expenditure of almost $6 billion generated by Québec's mining industry. The QMA’s mission is to promote, support and proactively develop a responsible, committed and innovative mining industry in Québec.