Equity Partnership and Co-Design Agreement Set New Standards in Collaborative Project Development in the Critical Minerals Transition
VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - The McLeod Lake Indian Band (MLIB) and Defense Metals Corp. (Defense Metals), announced today a strategic Equity Partnership and Co-Design Agreement, solidifying their joint commitment to the successful advancement of the Wicheeda Project, a rare earth elements (REE) project in central British Columbia.
Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, Josie Osborne speaks at the announcement today. (CNW Group/Defense Metals Corp.)
McLeod Lake Indian Band, recognizing the significant potential of the Wicheeda Project, has purchased a meaningful equity stake in Defense Metals. This strategic investment will showcase MLIB's long-term commitment to the project's success and expects to further cement their position as a key participant in its development. MLIB now holds approximately 2.6 million common shares of Defense Metals.
Simultaneously, MLIB and Defense Metals have entered into a Co-Design Agreement (the Agreement), setting a new standard for collaborative project development. The Agreement emphasizes a joint planning approach, empowering MLIB to play an integral part in the design and decision-making process in the technical, social, engineering and environmental aspects of the Wicheeda Project.
This unique agreement between McLeod Lake Indian Band and Defense Metals signals a transformative moment in the collaborative development of mining projects – particularly in the global push for Critical Minerals Projects. Central to this collaboration is the Wicheeda's contribution to the clean energy transition in British Columbia. With a targeted annual production equivalent to approximately 10% of current global production, the project has the potential to become a significant supplier of rare earth elements.
McLeod Lake Indian Band
"McLeod Lake Indian Band values its partnership with Defense Metals, and together, we are pioneering a new standard in collaborative project development, which is a true form of reconciliation. We're proud to be a part of a project that will be a key contributor to global energy transition goals, and one that will deliver long-term economic benefits to our community for generations to come." – McLeod Lake Indian Band Chief Harley Chingee.
Defense Metals Corp.
"We're proud to partner with MLIB and these strategic agreements exemplify a shared vision and commitment to realizing the full potential of the Wicheeda Project and the positive impact it will have on the global Critical Minerals Transition. Through both agreements, McLeod Lake Indian Band stands to reap mutual benefits from our combined efforts around the Wicheeda Project." – CEO of Defense Metals, Craig Taylor.
Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation
"The collaboration between Defense Metals and McLeod Lake Indian Band demonstrates how early-stage consultation with First Nations can bring important projects to life in a way that benefits everyone. Partnerships like this play a pivotal role in shaping BC's natural resources future, as we lay a concrete path toward achieving our net-zero goals through collaboration and advancing reconciliation." – Josie Osborne, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation.
About Defense Metals Corp. and its Wicheeda Project
Defense Metals Corp. is a mineral exploration and development company focused on the development of its 100% owned, 8,301-hectare (~20,534-acre) rare earth element Wicheeda Project that is located on the traditional territory of the McLeod Lake Indian Band in British Columbia, Canada.
The Wicheeda Project, approximately 80 kilometres northeast of the city of Prince George, is readily accessible by all-weather gravel roads and has nearby infrastructure, including rail and hydro power. The nearby Canadian National Railway and major highways allow easy access to the port facilities at Prince Rupert, the closest major North American port to Asia.
Defense Metals Corp. trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "DEFN", in the United States, trading symbol "DFMTF" on the OTCQB and in Germany on the Frankfurt Exchange under "35D".
Defense Metals is a proud member of Discovery Group. For more information please visit:
https://www.discoverygroup.ca/