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PDAC 2026 attendance: 32,155 (all-time record)
Canada-Australia critical minerals partnership formally announced
Strong commodity prices continue to underpin sector-wide optimism
Capital Markets January 15, 2026 · 3 min read
PDAC 2026: What We Heard, What It Means, and Where the Mining Sector Is Moving
PDAC 2026: What We Heard, What It Means, and Where the Mining Sector Is Moving
Key Takeaway
PDAC 2026 drew a record 32,155 attendees, with critical minerals firmly established as a strategic priority at the intersection of national security and industrial resilience. Key discussion themes — including the Canada-Australia critical minerals partnership, power and infrastructure constraints, and Indigenous partnership requirements — carry direct implications for Korean companies considering Canadian mining investments or public listings.
# PDAC 2026: What We Heard, What It Means, and Where the Mining Sector Is Moving
Key Summary
PDAC 2026 drew a record 32,155 attendees, cementing critical minerals as a central pillar of national security and industrial resilience. Major discussion themes included the Canada-Australia critical minerals partnership announcement, power and infrastructure constraints, and Indigenous partnership considerations — all of which carry direct strategic implications for Korean companies pursuing Canadian mining investments or exchange listings.Details
According to [StrategyCorp's analysis](https://strategycorp.com/2026/03/pdac-2026-what-we-heard-what-it-means-and-where-the-sector-is-moving/), the defining themes of PDAC 2026 were: (1) critical minerals are now being framed through the lens of industrial resilience and national security; (2) power supply and infrastructure constraints — including remote power access, grid congestion, and connection delays — are emerging as the primary bottlenecks for project advancement; (3) Indigenous partnerships have become a decisive factor in both project viability and financing risk; and (4) the Canadian and Australian governments announced a joint critical minerals stockpiling and supply chain partnership. [PDAC Official Release](https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286250/PDAC-2026-Reflects-Growing-Global-Momentum-for-Mineral-Exploration-and-Development)Key Figures
Rise Partners Implications
For Korean battery and EV materials companies evaluating investment in Canadian critical minerals projects, Indigenous partnership compliance (FPIC) and power infrastructure availability should be highlighted as non-negotiable due diligence items. The Canada-Australia critical minerals partnership also provides a practical reference point for exploring the feasibility of an analogous Korea-Canada cooperation framework.Implications
For Korean battery and EV materials companies evaluating Canadian critical minerals projects, FPIC-based Indigenous partnerships and power infrastructure security should be emphasized as core due diligence requirements. The Canada-Australia critical minerals partnership serves as a concrete precedent for exploring a comparable Korea-Canada collaboration framework.