Beyond the Ore: A New Blueprint for Copper and Clean Hydrogen in Canada

VANCOUVER, BC – June 30, 2026 – The global push for electrification is running headlong into a geological reality: the world needs more copper, but high-grade, easy-to-access deposits are dwindling. For decades, the mining industry’s answer has been to dig deeper and process more rock using energy-intensive, carbon-heavy methods. Now, a Vancouver-based company is advancing a technology that could fundamentally alter that equation, and the Canadian government is betting up to $5 million that it’s on the right track.

pH7 Technologies, a firm that has already commercialized a process for recycling platinum group metals, is partnering with Trekor Metals to test its novel extraction method on low-grade sulfide ore from the Gibraltar Mine in British Columbia. Backed by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), the project aims to do what was previously considered impractical: produce 99.9% pure copper cathodes directly at the mine site from challenging ore, all while generating green hydrogen as a valuable byproduct. It’s a move that speaks less to speculative discovery and more to disciplined execution—a core principle for any industry facing disruption.

A Radically Different Chemistry for Copper

Traditional copper production is a brute-force affair. Over 80% of the world’s copper comes from sulfide ores, which are typically crushed, milled, and concentrated before being shipped to a smelter. This pyrometallurgical process, responsible for the vast majority of primary copper production, is a massive source of CO2, SOx, and NOx emissions.

pH7’s technology sidesteps this entire chain. It employs a proprietary closed-loop organo-electrochemical process that can be integrated into existing heap leaching infrastructure. The key innovation lies in its ability to effectively process sulfide ores, which have historically resisted leaching due to a passivation layer that forms on the mineral surface, halting the chemical reaction. The company’s system uses a specialized electrochemical module to generate a powerful, reusable oxidant directly within the leaching solution. This oxidant breaks the stubborn metal-sulfur bonds, allowing organic ligands in the solution to selectively capture the copper ions.

From there, the copper is extracted through a standard electrowinning process, yielding high-purity cathodes ready for market. Critically, the barren solution is then looped back to the electrochemical unit where the oxidant is regenerated, creating a closed system. According to the company, this process uses 98% less water and 84% less energy than conventional methods, and because it’s a closed loop, it generates no wastewater or toxic emissions. It’s a shift from a linear, extractive model to a circular, regenerative one.

"As demand for copper continues to grow due to electrification, renewable energy infrastructure, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing, the industry faces the challenge of increasing supply while reducing environmental impacts," said Mohammad Doostmohammadi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of pH7 Technologies.

The Dual-Value Proposition

What elevates this project beyond a simple process improvement is its dual output. The electrochemical reactions at the heart of pH7’s system don’t just liberate copper; they also produce green hydrogen. This isn't an afterthought but an integral part of the process, turning what could be a simple mining operation into a co-located energy hub.

For a remote mine site, the implications are significant. Diesel-powered haul trucks and machinery are major operational costs and carbon liabilities. The ability to produce clean hydrogen on-site offers a direct path to decarbonizing mine operations, replacing fossil fuels with a clean energy source generated from the very process of metal extraction. This transforms low-grade ore from a marginal resource into a source of two distinct, high-demand commodities: a critical metal for the energy transition and a clean fuel to power it.

This integrated approach represents a fundamental shift in resource management. It suggests a future where mining isn't just about extracting a single commodity but about maximizing the value of every ton of rock moved, turning waste streams into revenue streams.

Securing a Critical Link in the Supply Chain

The project’s timing is no coincidence. It aligns perfectly with Ottawa’s strategic priorities. The funding from NRCan’s Energy Innovation Program is designed to bolster domestic capabilities and decarbonize heavy industry. “Canada has the resources, talent and innovative technologies needed to be a global leader in critical minerals,” stated The Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. “Projects like this help strengthen domestic supply chains, improve the competitiveness of our mining sector and support economic growth while advancing more efficient and sustainable resource development.”

By enabling the on-site production of pure copper cathodes, the technology could reduce Canada’s reliance on foreign smelters, capturing more value within the country and insulating a critical supply chain from geopolitical volatility. For operators like Trekor Metals, it offers a tangible path to improving efficiency and unlocking the value of resources that are currently uneconomic to process.

“Meeting future copper demand will require both new sources of supply and innovative approaches to improve the efficiency of existing operations,” noted Adil Cheema, Director of Process Engineering at Trekor Metals. “We are pleased to support the evaluation of emerging technologies such as pH7’s process and look forward to the insights generated through this program.”

The Path to Commercial Scale

Despite the promise, the road from a demonstration project to industry-wide adoption is fraught with challenges. The NRCan funding is explicitly for evaluation—generating the operational, environmental, and economic data needed to de-risk the technology for future commercial deployment. Scaling any chemical process from the lab to the industrial chaos of a mine site is a monumental task, requiring robust engineering and flawless integration with existing workflows.

However, pH7 is not a typical early-stage startup. The company already operates a commercial facility in Vancouver processing Platinum Group Metals from spent automotive catalysts using a similar closed-loop philosophy. This track record of execution provides a crucial proof point. Furthermore, significant private capital is flowing in. The company recently closed a $55 million Series B financing round with backing from major strategic investors like BHP Ventures and Asahi Kasei Corp., signaling strong market confidence in its ability to scale.

The project at the Gibraltar Mine will be the true test. Success here would not only validate the technology for copper but also create a powerful blueprint for sustainable mining. It would demonstrate that it’s possible to meet the world’s growing appetite for critical minerals not by simply digging more, but by digging smarter, turning the industry’s liabilities into its most valuable assets.