Rio Tinto is strengthening its footprint in Canada’s emerging lithium corridor in the James Bay region of Quebec through an expanded partnership with junior explorer Azimut Exploration. The updated agreement grants Rio Tinto exclusive lithium rights over the Wabamisk East property in northern Quebec, adding to its growing portfolio in a region critical for the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain. This move reflects the Anglo-Australian miner’s strategic ambition to secure long-term access to lithium, a metal central to global energy transition goals.
The revised deal folds Wabamisk East into Rio Tinto’s existing options on the Corvet and Kaanaayaa properties, forming the consolidated “CKW Properties” exploration block. Under the terms, Rio Tinto can earn an initial 50% interest by investing C$25 million in exploration activities and C$1.7 million in cash payments by 2028, while Azimut will remain the operator during the first phase. Rio Tinto may increase its stake to 70% by contributing an additional C$60 million over five years, at which point it would assume operational control. Notably, the Lithos target within Wabamisk East—a pegmatite system with surface samples yielding up to 7.43% lithium oxide—has emerged as a high-priority focus, covering a 4 km2 open- ended area. Azimut retains rights to gold and copper across the rest of the Wabamisk property.
This alliance highlights the intensifying race for secure lithium supply in North America, amid rising demand for clean energy technologies and geopolitical efforts to localize critical mineral value chains. Rio Tinto’s growing investment in Quebec, coupled with Azimut’s continued role as project operator, also underscores the importance of early-stage partnerships in building exploration pipelines. From a social license to operate standpoint, sustained collaboration with local communities, Indigenous stakeholders, and provincial authorities will be crucial as drilling activities ramp up. With lithium becoming a geopolitical and environmental priority, transparent engagement and shared value creation will help ensure that exploration success translates into long-term community support and responsible development.