Gates, BMW Back $85M Lithium Refiner in Canada

Canada just took a major step toward powering the electric vehicle revolution on home soil. Mangrove Water Technologies, a lithium refiner based near Vancouver, secured $85 million from heavy hitters including Bill Gates' Breakthrough Energy fund, BMW's venture arm, and the Canadian government.

The investment will expand the company's commercial facility in Delta, British Columbia, right on the U.S. border. More importantly, it paves the way for a second, much larger plant that could supply enough lithium for 500,000 electric vehicles every year.

The Canada Growth Fund, a government-backed investment vehicle, led the financing package with $65 million. Its mission is simple: support technologies that cut carbon emissions and keep critical mineral processing in Canadian hands.

Industry Minister Melanie Joly emphasized that Canada wants minerals mined on Canadian soil to stay in Canada for refining. That matters because lithium batteries power everything from phones to cars, and most refining currently happens overseas.

This isn't Mangrove's first rodeo. Last year, the company closed a $35 million funding round with backing from Japanese giants Mitsubishi and Asahi Kasei, plus other investors. Founder Saad Dara explained the stakes: western countries need secure supply chains as geopolitical tensions with Asian markets simmer.

The Ripple Effect

This investment signals something bigger than one company's success. Bill Gates' Breakthrough Energy Ventures only backs startups capable of cutting global emissions by 500 million tonnes annually. That's roughly equal to taking every car in the United States off the road for a year.

BMW's involvement shows automakers are hungry for reliable, local lithium sources. As electric vehicle sales climb, manufacturers can't afford to depend on distant suppliers or volatile international markets.

The Canadian government's financial backing proves nations are racing to secure their slice of the clean energy economy. Jobs, technology, and energy independence all flow from investments like these.

For communities around Delta, the expanding facilities mean good-paying manufacturing jobs in a growing industry. For drivers considering their next vehicle purchase, it means a more stable supply chain for affordable electric cars.

Canada is building the infrastructure to power tomorrow's transportation, one refinery at a time.