Women + Investing: Understanding the Critical Minerals Landscape
Peggy talks with
Gordana Slepcev, CEO of Lomiko Metals
On April 8th, Peggy Bell sat down with Gordana Slepcev, CEO of Lomiko Metals, to dig into one of the most essential yet least understood critical minerals in the energy transition.
Gordana walks us through what graphite is, how it moves from rock to battery, and why it makes up the largest share of every lithium-ion battery on the market today.
Curious to learn more? Our discussion is below.
Gordana breaks down the difference between natural and synthetic graphite, noting that synthetic graphite production generates roughly 4 times more carbon dioxide per ton. She explains how natural graphite deposits in Quebec are processed by flotation and purified into battery-grade anode material, and outlines the supply chain from the mine site to downstream facilities. We talk about the scale of demand driving this industry forward, with the global battery market expected to grow from 3 trillion to 10 trillion dollars by 2030, fuelled by electric vehicles, renewable energy storage, and the power requirements of AI and data centres.
One of the most important parts of the conversation is around retail investment. Gordana explains how most institutional funds set minimum thresholds that leave junior mining companies without access to capital, and how retail investors and family offices are essential to funding the exploration work that keeps Canada's mining pipeline alive. That investment creates local jobs, trains local workforces, supports regional contractors, and builds the critical mineral supply chain at the centre of Canada's economic future.
This is exactly the kind of conversation we are continuing at Women + Investing Live in Vancouver on May 6. Gordana joins us in person to share more about her experience leading a junior mining company and what she sees ahead for Canada's critical minerals sector. If you work in mining and want to understand investing from inside the industry, you already belong in this room.
This is for educational purposes only. We do not provide investment advice.
