BQE Water

What BQE Water does

BQE Water Inc. is a publicly traded Canadian mine water treatment technology and services company focused exclusively on the global mining industry. Founded in 2000 (as BioteQ Environmental Inc.) and headquartered in Vancouver, BC, with regional offices in Hangzhou (China) and Santiago (Chile), the company designs, builds, and operates water treatment plants that serve mining clients across the entire project lifecycle — from early advisory and permitting through commissioning, long-term operations, emergency response, and sustainable mine closure. Its customer base spans major mining companies and government entities across North America, Asia, and Latin America, anchored by multi-decade relationships with Glencore's Raglan Mine (21 years) and Jiangxi Copper (19 years).

The company's core offering is built around four proprietary, registered technologies: Selen-IX, which uses ion exchange and electrochemistry to remove selenium from mine-impacted water to ultra-low concentrations below 2 ppb; BioSulphide and ChemSulphide, biological and chemical sulfide processes that recover valuable metals from mine drainage while eliminating toxic sludge; Sulf-IX, a selective ion exchange process for sulfate removal; and SART (Sulfur, Arsenic, and Removal Technology), which recovers and recycles cyanide consumed by base metals in gold leaching. These technologies are complemented by an in-house aquatic toxicology laboratory and a full suite of engineering, permitting, and rapid-deployment emergency response services. BQE's defensibility rests on a portfolio validated by the Kirkpatrick Chemical Engineering Achievement Honor Award (for Selen-IX) and dozens of Canadian and international clean-tech and sustainability awards.

BQE generates revenue primarily through long-term, performance-based operations contracts in which compensation is tied to the volume of clean water meeting regulatory discharge standards — a recurring, subscription-like structure. This is supplemented by engineering and design services, operation support, and emergency response engagements. The company has built an ecosystem of Indigenous community joint ventures and partnerships in Canada (Nuvumiut, Selkirk First Nation, Na-Cho Nyak Dun, Big River Operations) that provide social license and local capacity. In 2025, BQE reported revenue of CAD 35.5 million (107% year-over-year growth) and net income of CAD 8.1 million, operating eight water treatment facilities that treat an average of approximately 11 million cubic meters of water and recover 4,000 tonnes of valuable metals and 1,000 tonnes of sodium cyanide per year.

Name

BQE Water

Legal name

BQE Water Inc.

Website

https://bqewater.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

BQE Water provides proprietary water treatment technologies (Selen-IX, BioSulphide, Sulf-IX, SART) and long-term operations services to mining companies worldwide, serving gold, copper, and nickel producers from permitting through mine closure.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mine Water Treatment Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Metal Mining (213114), Support Activities for Mining (213), Remediation Services (562910)

SIC

Metal Mining (1000), Gold And Silver Ores (1040)

akta.pro primary industry

Mine Dewatering & Water Management Services (Pumping, Treatment, Tailings Water Return) (IMAKAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tailings & Water Management Engineering (TSF Design/Construction, Dams, Water Treatment) (IMAKAOAF), Mining & Metals Process & Water Chemicals (IMAEAJAJ), Mining & Heavy Metals Remediation (Acid Mine Drainage, tailings-impacted sites) (BPALAKAK), Process Water & Effluent Treatment (Water Recycle, AMD Treatment, Neutralization) (IMAKALAI), Mine Closure, Reclamation & Environmental Services (Precious Metals Sites) (IMAKAEAL)

Keywords

• Mine water treatment
• Water treatment operations
• Selenium removal technology
• Cyanide recovery process
• Mine water management

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Water Treatment Operations Contracts: Long-term operations contracts where BQE is compensated for volume of clean water meeting discharge standards, providing recurring revenue
2. Operation Support Services: Technical services for ongoing plant operation support, including performance monitoring and optimization
3. Engineering and Design Services: Process engineering, design engineering, and permitting support services
4. Emergency Response Services: Rapid deployment water treatment services for unexpected water challenges

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

BQE Water designs, builds, and operates water treatment plants for the global mining industry, providing end-to-end mine water management solutions from permitting through closure. The company combines proprietary technologies (Selen-IX, BioSulphide/ChemSulphide, Sulf-IX, SART) with operations, engineering, design, aquatic toxicology, and emergency response services, earning recurring revenue by being compensated for the volume of clean water produced that meets regulatory discharge standards.

Product overview

BQE Water offers a unified portfolio of mine water treatment solutions built around four proprietary technologies (Selen-IX for selenium removal, BioSulphide®/ChemSulphide® for metal recovery, Sulf-IX for sulphate removal, and SART for cyanide management) combined with an integrated life-cycle service model. The company delivers end-to-end services spanning early advisory, permitting, plant design and commissioning, operations, and closure — positioning BQE not merely as a technology licensor but as a trusted operator compensated for volume of compliant water produced. This integrated approach is complemented by aquatic toxicity laboratory services for regulatory compliance verification. The result is a single point of accountability for mine water management from permitting through closure, with recurring operations contracts generating predictable revenue.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Selen-IX Ion exchange and electrochemistry-based technology for cost-effective removal of selenium from mine impacted waters to ultra-low concentrations below 2 ppb, for mining operators needing to meet selenium discharge regulations.
• BioSulphide®/ChemSulphide® Metal recovery/removal technology using biological or chemical sulfide processes to treat mine drainage and recover valuable metals as saleable by-products while eliminating toxic sludge waste, for mining operators.
• Sulf-IX Selective ion exchange technology for sulphate removal from mine impacted waters, enabling compliance with strict discharge regulations and water recycle in mining operations.
• SART (Sulfur, Arsenic, and Removal Technology) Process for cyanide recovery and detoxification that enables recovery and recycling of cyanide consumed by base metals in gold leaching, lowering extraction costs while reducing environmental footprint of gold mining.
• Aquatic Toxicity Solutions Aquatic toxicity assessments to evaluate potential environmental impact of contaminants in water, including acute and chronic toxicity testing for regulatory compliance and environmental protection.
• Early Engagement/Advisory Services Early phase consultation covering holistic water assessments, water treatability studies, technology development, permitting support, community engagement, and peer reviews for mining project developers.
• Mine Water Permitting Technical and regulatory support for navigating complex mine water permitting processes, including lab testing, by-product stability assessment, toxicity investigation, pilot testing, and design engineering.
• Clean Water Production End-to-end process design, commissioning, and operational services for mine water treatment plants including lab testing, pilot testing, process engineering, automation, and ongoing optimization.
• Sustainable Closure Closure planning and post-closure site management for long-term water stewardship, ensuring technically robust, economically feasible, and environmentally responsible closure strategies for mining operators and regulators.
• Emergency Response Rapid deployment of water treatment solutions during unexpected water challenges at mine sites, including cross-functional teams for stabilization, compliance restoration, and environmental impact minimization.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20 million m3 of wastewater treated for environmental discharge annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• Canadian Royalties Inc.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 19 March 2026Three-year agreement through Nuvumiut Developments joint venture to operate mine water treatment plants at CRI's Nunavik Nickel Project in Quebec's Nunavik region. Seasonal operation of five treatment systems from May to October.
• Hudbay MineralscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 February 2026Contract to progress engineering design of first SART plant in Canada to Issued-for-Construction phase, integrated into Hudbay's mill in Snow Lake, Manitoba. Follows six months of bench scale testing and preliminary engineering.
• Aclara ResourcesstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Rare earth recovery project in South America. BQE is designing water treatment plant to achieve maximum water recycle and Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) from heavy rare earth extraction processing facility.
• ERDC (Elsa Reclamation & Development Company)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2026Contract to operate water treatment systems in 2026. Partnership through Na-Cho Nyäk Dun for Valley Tailings facility cleanup and consolidation of legacy tailings.
• PeñolesstrategicImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2026Assessing how targeted water treatment could improve metallurgical performance at Capela operation in Mexico, focusing on reducing zinc deportment into copper and lead products.
• HeclastrategicImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 5 November 2025Partnership through Na-Cho Nyäk Dun for improving water treatment at Keno Hill operation.
• Shandong GoldcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Third SART plant designed for Shandong Gold, largest gold producer in China. BQE providing five-year operation support services. Plant recovers and recycles cyanide while recovering copper and zinc in high grade metal concentrates.
• KinrossstrategicImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Improving cyanide destruction circuit performance at Fort Knox mine through field investigation, root cause analysis, and operational optimization support.
• Na-Cho Nyäk Dun Development CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership formed in 2024 covering wide range of services including water management, treatment for discharge, water quality monitoring, environmental effects monitoring, toxicity investigation, and closure planning. Three active projects: Keno Hill improvements, ERDC Valley Tailings facility, and Eagle Gold Mine emergency response.
• Big River OperationscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024First Nation-owned business partnered with BQE Water and Na-Cho Nyäk Dun for Eagle Gold Mine operations and other projects.
• Yukon GovernmentcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2024Water management partnership at Minto Mine during mine closure under government contract.
• Selkirk First NationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnership formed in 2021 responsible for clean water production at Minto Mine and now treats water during mine closure under contract with Yukon Government. Building on positive interactions from 2009 emergency response project.
• Nuvumiut Development Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Joint venture company BQE Water-Nuvumiut registered in Salluit, majority owned by Nuvumiut (landholding corporation jointly owned by communities of Salluit and Kangiqsujuaq). Focuses on water treatment services to active mining projects in Nunavik including Raglan and Canadian Royalties. JV currently operates four treatment facilities with BQE managing operations.
• Jiangxi CoppercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Joint venture formed in 2007 to build and operate water treatment plants using BQE Water technologies at Dexing mine. 19-year operating relationship.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hatch Ltd: Hatch is a global engineering and project delivery firm with a Mining & Minerals practice that performs mine water management, design, and commissioning work for major mining operators. Directly comparable to BQE as a competing provider of engineering, design, commissioning, and water treatment support to the same mining client base.
• Advisian (Worley Group): Advisian is Worley's specialist consulting arm covering water treatment and environmental services to mining and resources projects worldwide. Comparable to BQE in offering integrated water management advisory, design, and consulting across the mine lifecycle for major mining clients.
• Stantec: Stantec's mining environmental services practice delivers water treatment, mine water management, and remediation solutions for mining clients globally. Directly comparable to BQE as a global environmental consultancy competing on mine water permitting, design, and operations support.
• Tetra Tech: Tetra Tech provides water, environmental, and engineering services with significant mining exposure, including water treatment plant design and site remediation. Comparable to BQE in serving mining operators with end-to-end water and environmental solutions.
• Golder Associates (now WSP): Golder Associates, now part of WSP, is an environmental and engineering consultancy with deep mining-sector water management expertise. Comparable to BQE in providing mine water permitting, design, treatment technology integration, and operational support to mining clients globally.

Broad incumbents

• Veolia Water Technologies: Veolia is one of the largest industrial water treatment technology suppliers and EPC contractors globally, including for the mining sector. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering water treatment technology, design, and operating services across multiple industrial verticals including mining.
• Metso Corporation: Metso (formerly Metso Outotec) supplies processing equipment and water management solutions for mining and metals processing. Comparable as a broad mining-process incumbent offering overlapping capabilities in tailings, water, and process water treatment in mining and metallurgical processing.
• Andritz Group: Andritz supplies process equipment and water/wastewater treatment solutions to industrial markets including mining. Comparable as a broad industrial equipment and process technology incumbent with mining water applications overlapping with BQE's metallurgical process water focus.

Regional players

• Andritz Separation (formerly ANDRITZ Gouda) / Sülzle Group: Sülzle offers specialty water treatment chemicals and process solutions to mining operators in Europe and adjacent markets. Comparable as a mid-sized provider of process chemicals and water treatment services for mining with overlapping technical capabilities.

Emerging players

• Clean TeQ Water: Clean TeQ Water focuses on specialty water treatment technologies including ion exchange and mine water demineralization, with a heritage in metals and mining. Comparable as an emerging specialist technology provider applying proprietary processes to mining water treatment in direct competition with BQE's Selen-IX/Sulf-IX.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bqewater
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bqewater
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCexample

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BQE Water