Critical Elements
Critical Elements Lithium Corporation is a Canadian junior mining developer (TSX-V: CRE) advancing the wholly-owned Rose Lithium-Tantalum project in Quebec toward production of high-purity spodumene concentrate and a tantalum by-product for EV battery, glass/ceramics, and electronics end-markets.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersMontréal, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Critical Elements does
Critical Elements Lithium Corporation is a Canadian junior mining company (TSX-V: CRE; OTCQX: CRECF; FSE: F12) developing the wholly-owned Rose Lithium-Tantalum project in Eeyou Istchee James Bay, Quebec. The flagship Rose deposit hosts 26.3 Mt of Probable Reserves supporting a planned 17-year mine life, with an August 2023 Feasibility Study outlining average annual production of 204,000 tonnes of high-purity lithium spodumene concentrate, plus approximately 580 tonnes per year of a 20% Ta2O5 tantalum by-product. Critical Elements has secured a full suite of federal and provincial permits — including a federal environmental approval, a Certificate of Authorization under Quebec's Environment Quality Act, and a mining lease — positioning Rose among the most fully permitted hard-rock lithium projects in North America.
The company's processing flowsheet is a conventional froth flotation circuit producing both chemical-grade (5.56% Li2O) spodumene concentrate for lithium-ion battery converters and technical-grade (6.16% Li2O) spodumene concentrate for the glass and ceramics industry, alongside a 20% Ta2O5 tantalum concentrate recovered via magnetic and gravity separation. Tailings are filtered to 15% moisture or less and dry-stacked using non-potentially acid generating waste. Beyond Rose, Critical Elements is actively drilling the Rose West Discovery — where the Winter 2026 program expanded the mineralized footprint from 450m x 370m to 1,250m x 800m — and holds over 1,016 km² of exploration tenure in the Nemaska Trend targeting lithium and polymetallic (Ni-Cu-Co-PGE) mineralization.
The company is pre-revenue and intends to monetize through direct offtake sales of concentrate to enterprise customers in the EV battery, energy storage, glass and ceramics, and electronics/aerospace end-markets, with planned transportation by truck and rail to port for shipment to North American, U.S., and EU markets. Conditional funding totaling roughly US$135 million (US$115M debt letter from a Canadian financial institution plus C$20M federal Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund grant), together with recent bought-deal equity raises, supports progression toward a final investment decision. The 2023 Feasibility Study economics — US$2.2B after-tax NPV at 8%, 65.7% after-tax IRR, US$471M initial capex, US$81.30/t operating cost, and 78.8% projected gross margin — anchor the project's commercial case.
Critical Elements firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Critical Elements
- Legal name
- Critical Elements Lithium Corporation
- Website
- https://cecorp.ca
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Critical Elements Lithium Corporation is a Canadian junior mining developer (TSX-V: CRE) advancing the wholly-owned Rose Lithium-Tantalum project in Quebec toward production of high-purity spodumene concentrate and a tantalum by-product for EV battery, glass/ceramics, and electronics end-markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Critical Elements industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Lithium Mining
- NAICS
- Ground or Treated Mineral and Earth Manufacturing (327992)
- SIC
- Metal Mining (1000), Miscellaneous Metal Ores (1090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Exploration & Resource Development (Critical Minerals) (IMAKAFAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Lithium Mining & Brine Extraction (IMAKAFAA), Mine Development & Processing EPC (Critical Minerals) (IMAKAFAM), Battery Raw Materials Mining & Refining (Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt, Manganese, Graphite) (EUAFABAA)
Keywords
Where Critical Elements is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Montréal
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Critical Elements business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Spodumene Concentrate Sales: The company plans to generate revenue through the sale of high-purity spodumene concentrates produced at the Rose Lithium-Tantalum project. Expected production averages 157,706 tonnes per year of chemical grade 5.56% spodumene concentrate and 46,059 tonnes per year of technical grade 6.16% spodumene concentrate. The company states discussions with end-users of the high quality spodumene concentrate are ongoing, indicating active pursuit of offtake agreements.
- Tantalum Concentrate Sales: The Rose project will produce approximately 580 tonnes per year of tantalum concentrate grading 20% Ta2O5 as a co-product, generating additional revenue streams from the tantalite concentrate sales.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Critical Elements product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Critical Elements Lithium Corporation is developing the wholly-owned Rose Lithium-Tantalum Project in Eeyou Istchee James Bay, Quebec, intended to produce high-purity chemical grade (5.56% Li2O) and technical grade (6.16% Li2O) spodumene concentrates, plus a 20% Ta2O5 tantalum co-product. The company is in pre-production development with a planned 17-year mine life and average annual output of approximately 204 kilotonnes of high-purity spodumene concentrate, supported by a 1,016 km² exploration portfolio in the Nemaska Trend.
Product overview
Critical Elements Lithium Corporation is a Canadian mining company advancing the Rose Lithium-Tantalum Project, a wholly-owned hard-rock lithium operation in Quebec. The company produces three main products: chemical grade spodumene concentrate (5.56% Li2O) for battery supply chains, technical grade spodumene concentrate (6.16% Li2O) for glass and ceramics, and tantalum concentrate as a by-product. The flagship Rose project has a 17-year mine life with 26.3 Mt of Probable Reserves, supported by a 2023 Feasibility Study showing a 65.7% after-tax IRR. The company is also exploring the Rose West Discovery (10km west of Rose) and holds a 1,016 km2 exploration portfolio in the Nemaska Belt targeting additional lithium and polymetallic deposits.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Rose Lithium-Tantalum Project Wholly-owned, high-purity lithium-tantalum mining project in Eeyou Istchee James Bay, Quebec. Features 26.3 Mt of Probable Reserve forecasted to produce 17 years of high-quality lithium spodumene concentrate at an average of 204Kt per year, making it one of the most advanced hard-rock lithium projects in North America.
- Chemical Grade Spodumene Concentrate (5.56% Li2O) High-purity spodumene concentrate for chemical conversion, used in lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide production for electric vehicle batteries and energy storage systems. Average planned production of 157,706 tonnes per year.
- Technical Grade Spodumene Concentrate (6.16% Li2O) High-purity iron-free spodumene concentrate for the glass and ceramics industry. Average planned production of 46,059 tonnes per year in years 2-17. Historically commands premium pricing due to specific crystalline properties.
- Tantalum Concentrate (20% Ta2O5) By-product tantalum concentrate produced alongside lithium, averaging 580 tonnes per year of 20% Ta2O5 grade. Used in electronics, capacitors, and high-strength alloys for military, aerospace, and specialty applications.
Quantifiable outcome
- 17-year mine life with 26.3 Mt probable reserve
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Critical Elements
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Critical Elements technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Critical Elements partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Adelaide Capital and Oak Hill CapitalminorInvestor relations partnership with Adelaide Capital and Oak Hill Capital to support the company's investor relations activities, enhance market awareness, and engage with institutional and retail investors.
- InnovExplo Inc.minorIndependent Qualified Person for Mineral Resource Estimate and mine plan in the 2023 Feasibility Study. Responsible for resource estimation, mine planning, and NI 43-101 compliant technical reporting.
- Bumigeme Inc.minorResponsible for mineral processing engineering and metallurgical aspects of the 2023 Feasibility Study. Developed the process flowsheet for spodumene concentration.
- WSP Canada Inc.minorResponsible for environmental study, project infrastructure, financial modelling, and report integration for the 2023 Feasibility Study.
- Cree Nation (Eastmain Community, Grand Council of the Cree, Cree Nation Government)corePihkuutaau Agreement signed in July 2019 with the Cree Nation of Eastmain, Grand Council of the Cree (Eeyou Istchee), and Cree Nation Government. This impact and benefits agreement establishes a framework for sustainable development, mutual trust, and collaboration with Indigenous communities on whose Traditional Lands the project lies.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Critical Elements competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Piedmont Lithium: Piedmont Lithium is a North American hard-rock lithium developer advancing spodumene projects in Quebec (and historically the Carolinas) toward chemical-grade concentrate supply for the EV battery chain — directly analogous to Critical Elements' Rose project in jurisdiction, product, and stage.
- Frontier Lithium: Frontier Lithium is developing the PAK Lithium project in northwestern Ontario, producing spodumene concentrate with a feasibility-stage economics profile similar to Critical Elements' Rose, making it a direct Canadian hard-rock peer.
- Sayona Mining: Sayona Mining operates and is expanding hard-rock spodumene operations in Quebec (North American Lithium / Authier), directly competing with Critical Elements for the same North American lithium converter customers.
- Rock Tech Lithium: Rock Tech Lithium is developing the Georgia Lake spodumene project in Ontario and a European lithium converter, sharing Critical Elements' hard-rock concentrate-to-converter business model and North American jurisdiction.
- Lithium Americas: Lithium Americas is developing large lithium projects (Thacker Pass in Nevada, Cauchari-Olaroz in Argentina) targeting battery-grade output for the EV supply chain; a direct comparable on lithium project development, permitting milestones, and capital intensity.
- Sigma Lithium: Sigma Lithium operates the Grota do Cirilo hard-rock spodumene mine in Brazil, producing battery-grade lithium concentrate for global EV customers; a direct peer in spodumene concentrate production and ESG positioning.
- Core Lithium: Core Lithium owns the Finniss hard-rock spodumene project in Australia's Northern Territory and produces spodumene concentrate for the battery supply chain; comparable in mine type, product, and customer base to Critical Elements.
Broad incumbents
- Albemarle Corporation: Albemarle is the world's largest lithium producer, operating both brine and hard-rock assets globally and supplying battery-grade lithium chemicals; a broad incumbent whose pricing and offtake decisions directly affect the addressable market for spodumene concentrate producers like Critical Elements.
- Livent Corporation: Livent (now merged with Allkem to form Arcadium) is a major integrated lithium chemicals producer serving EV and specialty markets; a broad incumbent competitor for downstream offtake demand that absorbs spodumene concentrate.
Emerging players
- Standard Lithium: Standard Lithium is developing direct lithium extraction (DLE) brine projects in Arkansas and is similarly pre-revenue at scale pursuing lithium supply; an emerging lithium developer comparable on stage, scale, and funding profile, though differentiated by brine vs. hard-rock.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Critical Elements social profiles
Digital presenceCritical Elements compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Critical Elements financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Critical Elements leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Critical Elements funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Critical Elements M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Critical Elements
What does Critical Elements do?
Critical Elements Lithium Corporation is developing the wholly-owned Rose Lithium-Tantalum Project in Eeyou Istchee James Bay, Quebec, intended to produce high-purity chemical grade (5.56% Li2O) and technical grade (6.16% Li2O) spodumene concentrates, plus a 20% Ta2O5 tantalum co-product. The company is in pre-production development with a planned 17-year mine life and average annual output of approximately 204 kilotonnes of high-purity spodumene concentrate, supported by a 1,016 km² exploration portfolio in the Nemaska Trend.
Is Critical Elements a public or private company?
Critical Elements is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Critical Elements founded?
Critical Elements was founded in 2006. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Critical Elements based?
Critical Elements is headquartered in Montréal, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Critical Elements make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Spodumene Concentrate Sales are the primary driver. The others are tantalum Concentrate Sales.
Who are Critical Elements's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Piedmont Lithium, Frontier Lithium, Sayona Mining, Rock Tech Lithium, Lithium Americas, Sigma Lithium and Core Lithium. Broad incumbents are Albemarle Corporation and Livent Corporation. Standard Lithium is listed as an emerging player.
Does Critical Elements have an API?
No public API is recorded for Critical Elements.
What industry is Critical Elements in?
Critical Elements's product category is Lithium Mining. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAKAFAL, Exploration & Resource Development (Critical Minerals), with a secondary code of IMAKAFAA, Lithium Mining & Brine Extraction. Its NAICS code is 327992 and its SIC code is 1000.