Rock Tech Brings German Lithium Know-How to Ontario

Rock Tech Lithium and Siemens Canada sign an MOU to deploy digital twin technology at the Red Rock lithium converter in Ontario

24 Mar 2026

Rock Tech Lithium and Siemens Canada have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop the Red Rock lithium converter in Ontario using Siemens' digital twin technology, the first partnership of its kind for what would be the province's first lithium conversion facility.

The agreement was executed on March 2, 2026, at the Canadian Critical Minerals Forum during the PDAC convention in Toronto. It arrived as Ottawa announced 30 new critical minerals partnerships unlocking $12.1 billion in project capital, with Red Rock named a reference project within the G7 Critical Minerals Production Alliance.

Central to the deal is a transfer of engineering expertise from Germany to Canada. Rock Tech is already building a lithium hydroxide converter in Guben, targeting 24,000 tonnes per year and on track for a 2027 production start. Red Rock will be developed using Guben as its technical blueprint, compressing timelines and cutting execution risk. Planned capacity reaches up to 32,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent per year, enough to supply batteries for roughly 900,000 electric vehicles annually.

Siemens' digital twin platform will run across the full project lifecycle, from early engineering through construction and into operations. The technology builds a virtual replica of the plant before a shovel hits the ground, letting engineers simulate process flows, energy use, and material streams in real time. Design problems get resolved before capital is committed.

The MOU also reinforces Rock Tech's vision of a fully integrated Ontario supply chain, stretching from its wholly owned Georgia Lake mining project through to battery-grade conversion at Red Rock. Both companies plan to pursue joint funding through Natural Resources Canada, the Government of Ontario, and Canada-Germany cooperation programs.

Germany's Parliamentary State Secretary for Economic Affairs welcomed the deal as a sign of deepening bilateral industrial ties. Canada's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources called it evidence of G7 allies moving from ambition to action. With political backing on both sides of the Atlantic, Red Rock is laying the groundwork for a production decision.