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Canada has moved to give Italy priority access to Canadian critical minerals, adding a new dimension to a relationship that has increasingly focused on raw materials, industrial manufacturing, and defence procurement.

The commitment was confirmed during a meeting between Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Évian, France.

Italy’s access to Canadian mineral stockpiles builds on a series of developments that have accelerated over the past year, following Italy’s 2021 joining of the Critical Minerals Production Alliance, a Canada-led initiative launched at the 2025 G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta. The alliance brings together G7 representatives tasked with advancing mineral projects, attracting investment, and expanding processing capacity across participating countries.

The Italian government has also increased its involvement in Canada’s graphite sector. Earlier this year, Italian energy company Eni committed nearly C$100 million to secure graphite supply from Nouveau Monde Graphite’s Matawinie project in Québec. The investment linked one of Italy’s largest industrial groups to a project expected to become a major source of graphite for North American and European manufacturers.

Matawinie Takes on Strategic Importance

The decision to grant Italy priority access comes as Canada advances the development of domestic critical mineral assets.

In May, the federal government announced the start of construction at Nouveau Monde Graphite’s Matawinie mine, located roughly 120 kilometres north of Montréal. The project advanced from referral to Canada’s Major Projects Office to construction within six months.

Once fully developed, Matawinie is expected to produce up to 106,000 tonnes of graphite annually. The project carries nearly C$2 billion in investment value and is projected to create more than 1,000 jobs.

Graphite has become one of the most sought-after battery materials due to its role in lithium-ion battery anodes. According to Natural Resources Canada data, Canada produced approximately 12,000 tonnes of graphite in 2024, ranking eighth in the world and representing 0.7% of global output.

The federal government has backed the project through support from Export Development Canada, the Canada Infrastructure Bank, and the Canada Growth Fund. Ottawa has also arranged a seven-year offtake agreement covering 30,000 tonnes of graphite concentrate per year.

Nouveau Monde’s plans also extend beyond mining, with the company pursuing an integrated graphite strategy that includes a battery materials facility in Bécancour, Québec, creating a domestic value chain from extraction through processing.

Expanding Resource Partnership

The latest commitment between Canada and Italy adds to a year of growing cooperation in the critical minerals sector. With significant investment already flowing into Canadian graphite development and both countries participating in initiatives to strengthen mineral supply chains, the relationship is taking on greater significance for future resource development.

For Canada’s mining industry, the agreement provides another example of how domestic critical mineral assets are becoming part of broader economic and strategic partnerships among G7 countries as demand for secure sources of battery and defence materials continues to grow.