CANADIAN TECHNOLOGY
Catalysts for Canada
With supply chain dynamics in flux, Canada-based innovators have opportunities to prosper, Dan Gleeson writes
The 2025 Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada( PDAC) Convention in Toronto, again, acted as a barometer for Canada’ s mining sector prospects, with Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announcing 32 projects representing a total investment up to C $ 50 million($ 35 million) to support the development of Canada’ s critical mineral value chains.
The investment aimed to“ create good jobs, support economic opportunities, bolster our energy security by reducing reliance on authoritarian governments and contribute to a resilient and secure future”. It will support infrastructure development, innovation and data collection while partnering with Indigenous communities on the engagement, participation and capacity building needed to achieve Canada’ s potential as a world leader in sustainable and responsibly sourced critical minerals.
A large chunk of this investment – up to C $ 38.5 million – was due to come under the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund, Natural Resources Canada’ s flagship program under the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy to support enabling clean energy and transportation infrastructure projects necessary to increase Canada’ s supply of responsibly sourced critical minerals and the development of domestic and global value chains for the green and digital economy.
While PDAC attendees are used to hearing pledges from politicians at this annual gathering,
the difference in the last few years is the integrated nature of the investments, looking to catalyse growth in not only specific projects deemed strategic, but also the value and supply chain around those projects.
IM speaks to some of the domestic manufacturers and suppliers set to cater to this potential new crop of mines.
Maestro out to streamline IIoT device maintenance
Maestro Digital Mine’ s ambition to reduce the capital and operation expenditure of underground mine infrastructure has recently led it to the development of a new maintenance system it is calling Duetto Analytics.
The Sudbury-based company has grown substantially over the little more than a decade it
Duetto Analytics’ aim is to equip underground mining teams with the information they need to optimise the maintenance associated with the Vigilante or Zephyr AQS air quality stations, the DustMon particulate matter monitor, the Plexus PowerNet digital communication network, and more
has been in existence, developing and rolling out sensing and monitoring solutions, as well as“ last-mile connectivity” products. Over this 14- year period, it has retained a vision of becoming a key enabler of the modern digital mine, resulting in increased productivity and safety.
Jacob Lachapelle, CEO-in-Training, said the company recently entered a transitory period where the focus shifted from growth to ensuring the products it provides are even more useful and productive.
Duetto Analytics takes advantage of all the available digital and artificial intelligence elements available to Maestro to diagnose issues with IIoT devices and, in many instances, troubleshoot issues from surface
10 International Mining | APRIL 2025