Minago to be Canada’s First Producer of Magnesium
Press Release
January 12, 2026
Norway House, Manitoba – Minago Development GP Inc. (Minago), has signed a licensing agreement granting it exclusive rights in Canada to Big Blue Technologies’ (BBT) advanced magnesium extraction process, including rights to sell magnesium using the technology in Canada and internationally.
BBT’s aluminothermic reduction (ATR) method is the most cost-eFective and energy-eFicient magnesium extraction technology available today. It delivers up to 98 percent lower carbon emissions than conventional processes and has the potential to become carbon-negative with future carbon-capture integration on dolomite calcination.
Minago will apply this technology to dolomite found above the Minago nickel/PGM deposit. Roughly 111 million tonnes of dolomite containing about 12 percent magnesium will be quarried as part of the broader mining operation, enabling the production of magnesium without additional mining or waste generation.
Canada currently consumes about 25,000 tonnes of primary magnesium annually, and the United States about 200,000 tonnes. With one tonne of magnesium produced from ten tonnes of Minago dolomite, the deposit can supply Canada’s needs for many generations and support significant export growth. North America currently has no primary magnesium production, with over 90 percent of global supply originating from China.
Magnesium metal is used in aerospace, automotive, defense, and advanced manufacturing and is essential for high-performance aluminum alloys and titanium production. Re-establishing primary production in North America will strengthen supply chain security while supporting the transition to lighter, stronger, and lower-carbon materials.
Chief Larson Anderson of Norway House Cree Nation commented that “Minago’s licensing of the BBT technology will make Manitoba the centre of primary magnesium metal production in Canada and does this with the most energy eFicient and environmentally sustainable technology available globally. NHCN purchased the Minago project just over one year ago to advance its plan to develop local natural resources, while protecting the land, water, and air, and to develop significant employment opportunities for the people living in the region. This project will provide critical minerals for Canada, break the cycle of poverty for First Nation residents, and create a new roadmap for resource development in Canada.”
Dr. Aaron Palumbo, CEO of Big Blue Technologies, said that “We are proud to partner with Minago Development LP Inc., on a project that sets a new global standard for clean magnesium production. Minago’s leadership and commitment to sustainable resource development make them the ideal partner to bring our technology to commercial scale. Together, we are building a resilient North American magnesium supply chain, proving that critical minerals can be produced safely, economically, and sustainably.”
Chief Larson Anderson
Norway House Cree Nation
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Media inquiries should be directed to Jim Rondeau, 204-795-5075, jim@minago.ca
Backgrounder
⦁ BBT’s process is fully electrified, requires no water, generates no liquid or solid waste, and uses scrap aluminum as a key input.
⦁ Calcium aluminate slag is also produced as a valuable byproduct used in specialty cement and steelmaking.
⦁ Testing by NHCN and BBT has confirmed magnesium recoveries from Minago’s dolomite of 91 to 94 percent and final product purity of 99.9 percent.
About Minago Development GP Inc. (Minago)
Minago is 100% owned by Norway House Cree Nation, with an independent management team whose focus is positioning Manitoba as the “Magnesium Capital of Canada”. Visit www.minago.ca for more information.
About Norway House Cree Nation
Norway House Cree Nation is located on the shore of Playgreen Lake near the outlet of Lake Winnipeg. With an on-reserve population of 7,500+, and total nation membership of over 8,000 NHCN is one of the largest First Nations in Manitoba and in Canada. The purchase of Minago in November 2024 was part of a broader economic development initiative for NHCN and northern Manitoba, underpinned by the First Nations principle of “using the entire animal,” deriving value from all materials extracted by the mine, minimizing waste and maximizing the economic value of the project. Visit www.nhcn.ca to learn more.
About Big Blue Technologies
Big Blue Technologies, Inc., based in Cheyenne, Wyoming, is rapidly scaling process technology to produce magnesium metal and calcium aluminate. Focusing on safety, scalability, and cost-e]ectiveness, Big Blue Technologies is ready to fill supply chain gaps in North America and re-establish domestic production capacity. To learn more, visit www.bigbluetech.com.
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