pH7 Technologies will receive funding of up to C$5m ($3.51m) from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) to evaluate a copper cathode production technology at the Gibraltar Mine in British Columbia, Canada.
The funding comes through the Energy Innovation Programme’s Mining Decarbonisation Demonstration Call for Proposals.
The metal processing company plans to use the funds to test its closed-loop copper extraction method.
This process aims to convert low-grade sulphide ore directly into 99.9% pure copper cathodes at the mining site, with green hydrogen produced as a by-product.
According to the company, the initiative seeks to generate technical, operational, environmental and economic data to inform potential future expansion and wider use within the Canadian mining sector.
The samples for the evaluation will be sourced from Trekor Metals’ Gibraltar Mine.
pH7 Technologies founder and CEO Mohammad Doostmohammadi said: “As demand for copper continues to grow due to electrification, renewable energy infrastructure, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing, the industry faces the challenge of increasing supply while reducing environmental impacts.
“The support from Natural Resources Canada validates the importance of developing innovative Canadian technologies that can strengthen critical mineral supply chains, improve resource efficiency and help decarbonise the mining industry.”
Project phases will include engineering and technology development work designed to supply data needed for future demonstration activities and to help reduce technical and commercial uncertainties associated with scaling up the process.
The financial support from NRCan will extend to future construction and demonstration stages following successful technical review and commercial assessment.
pH7 Technologies stated that the process under evaluation could provide another channel for producing high-purity copper cathodes at mine sites, potentially enhancing resource use and supporting critical mineral supply chains across Canada.
