Canada just made its most consequential bet yet on the raw materials powering the next era of technology. On July 7, 2026, Ottawa announced an equity-like investment of up to C$400 million into Teck Resources’ Trail Operations smelter in British Columbia, marking the first major commitment under the newly created Canada Critical Minerals Accelerator.
The deal is not charity. In exchange, the Canadian government secures offtake rights to a portion of future production of three minerals that have quietly become some of the most strategically important materials on the planet: germanium, antimony, and gallium.
Why these three minerals matter more than most people realize
Germanium is used in fiber optic cables and infrared technology. Gallium is a core input for semiconductors and next-generation solar panels. Antimony shows up in flame retardants, ammunition, and battery technology. All three have become flashpoints in the broader geopolitical contest over supply chain sovereignty, particularly after China restricted exports of several critical minerals in recent years.
The Trail Operations facility in British Columbia currently produces germanium and antimony as byproducts of its zinc and lead smelting operations. It has been running for over 125 years, making it one of the longest-operating fully integrated smelting complexes anywhere in the world. The planned expansion would potentially double output of both germanium and antimony while adding meaningful gallium production capacity for the first time.
