NRCAN — Mining Decarbonization Demonstration

Who is eligible?

The Mining Decarbonization Demonstration Call in Canada is intended for various eligible Canadian entities that meet specific organization classifications and partnerships. These recipients need to align with the Call's objectives and contribute to the decarbonization initiatives in the mining sector.

• Legal entities validly incorporated or registered in Canada, including for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, community groups, and Canadian academic institutions, are eligible to apply.
• Provincial, territorial, regional, and municipal governments and their departments and agencies can also apply where applicable.
• Indigenous entities are eligible, including Indigenous communities or governments, Tribal Councils, National or regional Indigenous councils, or tribal organizations, as well as Indigenous organizations that are majority-owned and controlled by Indigenous people, whether for-profit or not-for-profit.
• Applicants must be either owners or operators of mining, milling, and/or smelting assets in Canada, or technology solutions developers or providers partnering with an asset owner/operator.
• Projects require collaboration with partners, which can include foreign entities, provided these partners are identified and contribute to the project's success.

Who is not eligible

This grant excludes certain companies and industries mainly involved in non-aligned activities. The restrictions ensure alignment with the decarbonization objectives of the mining sector.

• Companies operating in thermal coal or oil sands activities.
• Entities focused on remote sensing, land use change improvements, and negative emissions projects.
• Organizations developing decarbonization technologies like small modular reactors (SMRs) and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS).
• Projects already receiving funding from other NRCan programs may also be considered ineligible.

Eligible expenses

The grant covers specific expenses directly related to the implementation and success of the project.

• Salaries and benefits for employees on the payroll of the Recipient for the actual time spent by the employees on the project.
• Training and workshops.
• Professional, scientific, technical, and contracting services.
• Travel expenditures, including meals and accommodation, based on National Joint Council Rates, adjusted for costs in Northern and remote areas, where appropriate.
• Capital expenditures such as the purchase, installation, testing, and commissioning of qualifying equipment, materials, and products, including diagnostic and testing tools and instruments, and original equipment manufacturer equipment warranty (including extended warranties where deemed appropriate to mitigate risk and lack of capacity).
• Other expenses related to the project or activity including laboratory and field supplies, printing services and translation, data collection services, facility costs for rentals, construction insurance, accreditation, license fees and permits, honoraria, training, and field testing services.
• Overhead expenditures, directly related to conducting the project, up to 15% of Eligible Expenditures.
• GST, PST, or HST, net of any tax rebate to which the Recipient is entitled.

Eligible geographic areas

This grant opportunity is open to companies incorporated or registered in Canada. Eligibility is based on operational locations that ensure a substantial benefit to Canadian regions.

• Organizations based across all Canadian provinces and territories.
• Companies operating within Indigenous communities across Canada.
• Businesses conducting demonstration activities in remote areas not connected to the North American electrical grid.

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

• The funding is non-repayable and intended for pre-commercial activities with benefits accruing broadly.
• Outcome reporting will be required for up to five years after project completion.
• There is a strong focus on knowledge dissemination, requiring applicants to produce and share knowledge products.
• There are provisions for in-kind contributions to be included in the overall project cost but not reimbursed.
• Final assessments will consider inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) impacts.
• Due diligence includes financial, technical, legal, and regulatory assessments.
• There is a maximum allowable overhead expenditure capped at 15% of eligible expenditures.
• Applicants must be prepared for NRCan to potentially share their proposals with other funding bodies for collaborative opportunities.