en.Wedoany.com Reported - As geopolitical tensions in the Middle East escalate and China tightens antimony export controls starting in 2024, the strategic value of antimony as a defense metal has become even more prominent. Canada possesses several antimony projects, but industry executives point out that the country lacks targeted policies for antimony, with significant gaps in the domestic supply chain from exploration to financing, permitting, and processing.
Canada has listed antimony as a critical mineral, but its Critical Minerals list includes a total of 34 minerals, dispersing policy and funding focus. Catalin Kilofliski, CEO of Canagold Resources (TSX: CCM; US-OTC: CRCUF), stated, "There is no strategy in Canada focused on antimony; it's lumped into the general critical metals category." He referred to some of the federal government's statements as "political noise" that has yet to translate into concrete action. The company's New Polaris gold-antimony project in northwestern British Columbia is Canada's most advanced antimony development project. It submitted its environmental assessment application on April 1, 2025, with a mine plan containing 5,173 tonnes of antimony. Canagold applied for financial support related to Natural Resources Canada but was rejected.
Canada's overall antimony project pipeline is weak, with most projects associated with gold systems. Besides New Polaris, Antimony Resources' (CSE: ATMY) Bald Hill project in New Brunswick and Critical One Energy's (CSE: CRTL; US-OTC: MMTLF) Howells Lake project in Ontario remain in the pre-resource stage. Endurance Gold's (TSXV: EDG; US-OTC: ENDGF) Reliance project in British Columbia has established gold resources, with antimony testing currently underway. James Atkinson, CEO of Antimony Resources, noted that the company remains in pure exploration mode, with no resource estimate or production timeline. He pointed out that even if mines progress, North America still lacks new pathways for processing antimony concentrate, stating, "We have nowhere to send it."
In contrast to Canada, US-based Perpetua Resources (Nasdaq, TSX: PPTA) has received over US$80 million in support from the U.S. Department of Defense for antimony work, and the U.S. Export-Import Bank has also advanced a proposal to provide a loan for the Stibnite gold-antimony project in Idaho. The Canadian government reiterated in March 2025 its Critical Minerals Plan worth over C$3.6 billion (approximately US$2.6 billion), including a C$1.5 billion "First Mile/Last Mile Fund" and a C$2 billion Critical Minerals Sovereignty Fund. However, these fall under broad critical minerals tools, with no dedicated antimony strategy established. As of March 2025, Canada had 171 advanced critical minerals projects, of which only five were submitted to the Major Projects Management Office for further review, and none were antimony projects.
Background information shows that antimony is used in the defense industry for explosive formulations, flares, infrared sensors, and lead-antimony alloy ammunition. According to U.S. Geological Survey data, approximately 40% of U.S. antimony consumption in 2024 went to lead-antimony and ammunition. China, as the world's primary antimony producer, implemented export controls in 2024 and further banned exports to the U.S. in 2025, driving international antimony prices significantly higher and exposing the vulnerability of North American supply chains. New Brunswick has initiated a competitive process for the old Lake George antimony mine, indicating government efforts to seek new domestic supply sources.
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