Inuit Joint Venture Tapped to Manage Water Treatment at Nunavik Nickel Mine

VANCOUVER, BC – March 19, 2026 – In a significant move that braids industrial expertise with Indigenous environmental stewardship, Canadian Royalties Inc. has awarded a three-year contract for water treatment operations at its Nunavik Nickel Project to BQE Water Nuvumiut Development Inc., a joint venture between a global water treatment leader and a company wholly owned by local Inuit communities.

The agreement, announced today, tasks the joint venture with operating five seasonal water treatment plants at the vast mining operation in Northern Quebec. This contract not only marks a strategic expansion for Vancouver-based BQE Water Inc. in Eastern Canada but also represents a powerful evolution in the role of Indigenous communities as active partners in managing the environmental footprint of resource extraction on their traditional lands.

A Strategic Partnership for a Sensitive Environment

The core of the agreement involves the seasonal management of mine water, a critical environmental task in any mining operation. From approximately May to October each year, the BQE-Nuvumiut venture will be responsible for treating water collected at the Nunavik Nickel Project, which spans a 60-kilometer series of polymetallic deposits between the northern villages of Salluit and Kangiqsujuaq.

The joint venture itself is a model of modern Indigenous-industry collaboration. BQE Water Nuvumiut Development Inc. is a partnership between BQE Water, a publicly traded company with a portfolio of advanced water treatment technologies, and Nuvumiut Development Inc. The latter is entirely owned in equal shares by the Qaqqalik Landholding Corporation of Salluit and the Nunaturlik Landholding Corporation of Kangiqsujuaq. This structure ensures that the communities most directly impacted by the mining operations have a direct hand—and a direct stake—in protecting their local environment.

This deep community involvement is further cemented by the venture's registration with the Makivvik Corporation, the influential Inuit land claims organization responsible for administering funds from the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. Makivvik's mandate is to promote economic growth while preserving Inuit culture, language, and welfare, making this contract a tangible example of its mission in action.

Adamie Alaku, President of Nuvumiut Developments Inc., underscored the importance of this local oversight. "Clean water is essential to our communities, and we are very pleased that CRI selected BQE-Nuvumiut for the role that helps ensure the environment is protected," Alaku stated in the press release. His comments reflect a growing sentiment that local and Indigenous knowledge is invaluable in achieving sustainable outcomes in resource development.

Expanding Footprints and Expertise in Eastern Canada

For BQE Water, the contract is a significant strategic victory. It solidifies the company's presence in Quebec's robust mining sector and deepens its operational expertise in the unique challenges of northern climates. The company has a global reputation, providing specialized water management services for major industry players like Glencore and Freeport-McMoRan, but this agreement strengthens its foothold in a key Canadian market.

"This new contract expands the scope of our existing partnership with Inuit communities centered around water stewardship in Nunavik," noted David Kratochvil, President & CEO of BQE Water. He emphasized that the agreement will "support the growth and strengthening of BQE's core expertise in mine water treatment operations in Eastern Canada in general and Quebec in particular."

The three-year term provides a stable foundation for the joint venture and allows BQE Water to demonstrate its technological and operational prowess in a demanding environment. The seasonal nature of the work requires robust, efficient systems that can be rapidly deployed and optimized to handle fluctuating water volumes during the spring melt and summer months, a logistical and technical challenge that plays to BQE Water's specialized skill set.

The Nunavik Nickel Project: Balancing Resources and Responsibility

The Nunavik Nickel Project, owned by Canadian Royalties Inc. (a subsidiary of China's Jien International Investment Ltd.), is a major economic driver in the region. Since securing initial permits in 2008, the project has grown to include both open-pit and underground mines producing copper and nickel concentrates. A recent discovery extended the mine's projected life to 2035, underscoring the long-term importance of sustainable environmental practices.

Operating in the sensitive arctic ecosystem of Nunavik, the project has navigated a complex path of regulatory approvals and community engagement. It operates under an Impact and Benefits Agreement (IBA) first signed in 2008 with the Makivvik Corporation and local communities, which ensures the distribution of economic benefits and prioritizes Inuit employment and contracting opportunities. This new water treatment contract is a direct fulfillment of that long-standing commitment.

Over the years, community consultations have raised concerns about the project's potential impact on caribou migration and marine life. In response, Canadian Royalties has engaged in environmental studies and developed adaptation plans to mitigate its footprint. The decision to award the water management contract to a joint venture with deep community roots can be seen as the next logical step in this ongoing dialogue, placing environmental oversight directly in the hands of a trusted local entity.

A New Model for Indigenous-Industry Collaboration

This agreement is more than a simple service contract; it represents a blueprint for the future of resource development in Canada's North. It moves beyond the traditional model of consultation and financial compensation, embodying a more integrated approach where Indigenous communities become active co-owners and operators in the environmental management of projects on their lands.

The structure of the BQE Water Nuvumiut Development venture ensures that economic benefits flow directly to the communities of Salluit and Kangiqsujuaq. More importantly, it empowers them with a direct role in safeguarding one of their most vital resources: water. This shift from passive beneficiary to active steward is a powerful trend reshaping the relationship between the mining industry and First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples across the country.

By combining BQE Water's world-class technical expertise with Nuvumiut Development's profound connection to the land and commitment to its preservation, the partnership creates a powerful synergy. It is a business arrangement built on shared values, aligning the mining operator's need for regulatory compliance and social license with the community's desire for economic opportunity and environmental security. As the mining industry continues to face scrutiny over its environmental and social performance, this type of collaborative, community-embedded partnership is increasingly seen not just as a best practice, but as a fundamental requirement for success.