Ottawa investing up to US$65-million in B.C. firm Mangrove Lithium

The Canada Growth Fund is investing up to US$65 million in Mangrove Water Technologies to support domestic lithium processing; the financing is part of an US$85-million round that also includes Breakthrough Energy Ventures and BMW i Ventures.

Ottawa is investing up to US$65 million in Mangrove Water Technologies Ltd., a privately held lithium processor based in Delta, B.C. The funding is being made through the Canada Growth Fund, a public investment vehicle with a mandate to support Canadian critical minerals technologies. Mangrove uses an electrochemical refining process that has been tested at pilot and commercial demonstration scales and is now scaling up its Delta plant. The current facility is reported to process enough lithium for about 25,000 electric cars a year, and the company has longer-term capacity goals. Key details: - The CGF contribution is described as up to US$65 million and is part of a larger US$85-million financing round announced by Mangrove. - Private backers in the round include Breakthrough Energy Ventures and BMW i Ventures. - The Canada Growth Fund is a federal vehicle with a wider $15-billion mandate and Ottawa also announced a $2-billion critical minerals sovereign fund in its recent budget. - Mangrove's process uses an electrical current rather than harsh chemicals, and it has been tested at pilot and commercial demonstration scales but not yet at full refinery scale. - The Delta plant's current capacity is reported as enough lithium for about 25,000 electric vehicles annually; the company has indicated a longer-term aim to reach much larger output. - The article reports that global lithium production and processing remain concentrated in China, citing 2024 production figures and an estimated 70% share of global processing. Summary: The CGF investment is part of a broader federal push to build domestic critical minerals capabilities and joins other government-backed financing for the sector. Mangrove is in the process of scaling up its Delta facility, and the financing sits within an announced US$85-million round with private partners; detailed timelines for full-scale operations were not provided.