Rio Tinto secures majority control of Nemaska Lithium in Quebec

Control transfer and management: In a pivotal ownership change, Rio Tinto assumed majority governance at the Quebec-based lithium outfit, shifting decision authority to the miner’s executive team. This rearrangement follows earlier transactions that placed key processing and mining assets under a common corporate umbrella, and it consolidates day-to-day oversight for development and operations. The provincial partner retains a sizeable stake and remains in the capital structure as a co-sponsor.

Financing, assets and schedule: Both partners agreed to continue injecting capital into the program, keeping construction momentum for the downstream hydroxide complex and upstream mine. A mid-decade milestone on the production calendar is in view, with the processing facility targeted to reach initial output by 2028. The deal builds on a prior asset purchase that brought the spodumene deposit and the Becancour plant into the same portfolio, shortening the path from ore to battery-grade chemical.

Strategic fit for North American EV supply: By combining mining and chemical conversion under a single operational chain, the partners aim to create a more predictable source of lithium hydroxide for vehicle makers in the region. The arrangement reduces some upstream risk through public-private funding alignment while leaving headline execution risks — permitting, construction and Indigenous consultation — in plain view. Expect active commercial outreach to automakers and battery makers as the project moves from build to ramp-up.