SIO SILICA
Manitoba’s next industrial opportunity: What we make from what we mine BY CARLA DEVLIN, PRESIDENT, SIO SILICA CORPORATION
M anitoba has an opportunity to do more than develop a significant natural resource. We have the potential to use that resource as a foundation for advanced manufacturing, industrial investment and a new generation of value-added economic activity. At Sio Silica, we see an opportunity with Indigenous partners to help position Manitoba as a Canadian hub for industries that depend on high-purity silica. Our SiMbA Project in southeastern Manitoba represents more than resource development. It offers a platform to attract investment, build new supply chains and create economic value that extends well beyond the project itself. From resources to advanced manufacturing High-purity silica is an important mate- rial in advanced industries, including solar technology, semi conductors, electronics and emerging battery applications. As coun- tries strengthen supply chains and invest in domestic manufacturing, reliable access to critical industrial materials is becoming increasingly important. Manitoba has the opportunity to con- nect its natural resource advantages with downstream processing, advanced materials research and manufacturing. The real economic potential lies in what comes next: specialized materials, components and finished products that can support skilled employment, supplier businesses, innovation and export growth. Rather than measuring success solely by the resources we produce, we should also consider the industries we can build around them. A Canadian opportunity Canada has the natural resources, clean electricity, research institutions and skilled workforce to play a greater role in global advanced manufacturing. Manitoba is partic- ularly well positioned, with its hydroelectric power, transportation infrastructure and established industrial expertise. Sio is pursuing opportunities to connect our resource with international markets and
downstream manufacturing. Our work with RCT Solutions GmbH to explore, in partnership with Southern Chiefs’ Organization, an integrated solar manufacturing opportunity in Canada illustrates the potential to link resource devel- opment with domestic industrial production. Our collaboration with the University of Manitoba on silicon-based battery materials research also demonstrates how a natural resource can support innovation and emerg- ing technologies. These initiatives reflect a broader ambi- tion: to help Canada participate not only in supplying materials to global industries but also in capturing more of the value created through processing and manufacturing. From project readiness to economic growth Sio has advanced the SiMbA Project through technical development, commercial engagement and Manitoba's environmental approval process. In September 2026, the company announced that its planned production for the first five years is covered by offtake agreements, subject to environmental licensing and other customary conditions. This commercial foundation con- nects the resource opportunity to market demand. With the necessary approvals secured, the project can advance toward development and support the pursuit of wider industrial opportunities.
For Manitoba businesses, the potential extends to transportation, construction, engineering, environmental industries, logistics, industrial services and future manufacturing partnerships. Meaningful Indigenous participation can also help create opportunities in equity ownership, business development, manufac- turing and long-term economic growth. Building Manitoba’s industrial future Realizing this opportunity will require col- laboration among industry, government, Indigenous partners, investors and research institutions. We need an environment that supports investment, encourages innova- tion and provides a clear, evidence-based regulatory pathway. The objective should be to turn Manitoba's resource advantages into lasting industrial capacity. Sio Silica's vision is to help create an eco- nomic opportunity that attracts investment, supports skilled jobs, strengthens Canadian supply chains and positions Manitoba for a larger role in advanced manufacturing. Our opportunity is not simply to supply the world's industries with resources. It is to build more of the industries themselves, right here in Canada. ■
15 WINTER 2026
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