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Labrador Trough Clean Power, Critical Minerals and Infrastructure Corridor

Sector

Electricity / Mining / Infrastructure

 

Location

Newfoundland and Labrador, Québec

Sector

Electricity / Mining / Infrastructure

Location

Newfoundland and Labrador, Québec

Description

The Labrador Trough Clean Power, Critical Minerals and Infrastructure Corridor (“Labrador Trough Corridor”) is a transformative strategy that will advance enabling infrastructure to unlock the region’s critical mineral wealth from high-purity iron ore and clean energy resources.

The Labrador Trough is a massive geological belt and mining region spanning approximately 1,100 kilometers across Québec and Labrador. It hosts the majority of Canada’s high-purity iron ore essential for low-carbon steel production, alongside other critical minerals. The region connects through the vital trade gateway of the Port of Sept Îles in Eastern Québec.

The Corridor focuses on the development of the mining, energy, and trade infrastructure required to realize the region's full economic potential, supporting Canada's objective to enable the advancement of critical mineral and industrial development and to bring Canadian resources to global markets.

Development in the Labrador Trough is enabled by a cooperation agreement between Hydro-Québec and Newfoundland & Labrador Hydro, which includes other federal supports. The agreement governs the development of Gull Island Generating Station (including associated transmission) and capacity upgrades at Churchill Falls Generating Station, ensuring long-term access to clean electricity in the region, and across the Provinces of Newfoundland & Labrador and Québec and specifically providing increased electricity capacity to the Labrador Trough.

 

Benefits

  • Developing trade infrastructure and export capacity to meet the growing demand for high-purity iron ore, essential for low-emission steelmaking, coupled with new clean electricity generation and transmission, provides Labrador and Québec with the opportunity for economic growth.
 

Latest updates

  • On August 17, 2026, this transformative strategy was referred to the Major Projects Office (MPO).
  • On August 17, 2026, Hydro-Québec and Newfoundland & Labrador Hydro signed a cooperation agreement enabling future development in the Labrador Trough region.