In a significant move pairing critical mineral development with climate action, two companies have inked a decade-long agreement to explore massive carbon dioxide removal at a major nickel project in British Columbia.
Exclusive Agreement for Carbon Removal Potential
Arca Climate Technologies Inc., an industrial mineralization firm, and Giga Metals Corporation announced a 10-year tailings and waste rock access agreement, signed on January 9, 2026. The deal grants Arca exclusive rights to evaluate the carbon sequestration potential of ultramafic waste material at the Turnagain Nickel Project.
The Turnagain project, located in British Columbia, is being advanced by Giga Metals in partnership with the Mitsubishi Corporation. Under the agreement, Arca will conduct sampling, analysis, pilot-scale testing, and techno-economic studies using its proprietary technology to accelerate a natural process called carbon mineralization.
Transforming Mine Waste into a Climate Solution
The core of the initiative lies in the vast amount of material expected from the mining operation. Giga Metals estimates that approximately 1.3 billion tonnes of ultramafic rock and tailings will be generated once mining commences.
Arca's technology aims to activate minerals within this ultramafic rock, speeding up the natural geochemical process where atmospheric carbon dioxide transforms into stable solid minerals. This process permanently locks away CO2. The company estimates that deploying its systems on-site could create a lifetime potential to remove up to 220 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Beyond carbon removal, the project aims to create co-benefits related to waste valorization and enhancing overall mine site sustainability.
Aligning with National Critical Minerals and Climate Goals
This collaboration arrives as Canada pushes to become a global supplier of critical minerals, like nickel, essential for the energy transition. The Canadian government's 2022 Critical Minerals Strategy identified nickel production as a national priority.
Recent federal investments and policies, including the Critical Minerals Sovereign Fund and the Defence Industrial Strategy, are designed to bolster this sector. The partnership between Arca and Giga Metals seeks to demonstrate how resource development can integrate directly with environmental stewardship.
"By pairing critical minerals development with permanent carbon dioxide removal, Giga Metals and Arca will demonstrate a new mining paradigm with enhanced project economics and broader societal benefit," said Paul Needham, CEO of Arca.
Scott Lendrum, CEO of Giga Metals, highlighted the long-standing relationship between the companies, noting collaboration on carbon sequestration concepts for over a decade. "Working with Arca allows us to evaluate emerging technologies that could enhance the environmental and economic performance of the Turnagain Project while supporting innovation in the mining sector," Lendrum stated.
The formal agreement allows Giga Metals to focus on producing nickel concentrate with strong environmental, social, and governance (ESG) credentials, while Arca works to maximize carbon sequestration by converting mine waste into reactive minerals.
