Company acquires industrial site in Thunder Bay, aims to become province’s first vertically integrated lithium producer.

Chinese firms have already invested in lithium hydroxide refineries in Western Australia.

The government will set up a new international program to attract investment linked to markets in the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Korea, India and the European Union.

Lithium resources in Bolivia's iconic salt flats are estimated at 21 million metric tons, according to the USGS.

The southern African nation last week banned exports of unprocessed lithium and other critical minerals.

The developer hiked spending estimates from $1.1 billion to $1.5 billion.

Construction could begin by late 2024 or late 2025.