Interview with Julian Treger, President & CEO of CoTec Holdings

Recording date: 7th October 2025

CoTec Holdings is pioneering a new era in mining by repurposing industrial waste and tailings through six proprietary technologies, aiming to develop nearly 20 assets by 2030 with potential net present values exceeding $2-3 billion. Led by CEO Julian Treger, a seasoned investor who scaled Anglo Pacific's earnings from $5 million to over $100 million in eight years, the company holds a current market value of $130 million CAD, with 60% insider ownership driving a goal of surpassing $1 billion in valuation. Treger's approach exploits market gaps: outdated extraction methods persisting despite decades of R&D spending, and undervalued waste sites containing extractable metals like iron ore, copper, tungsten, manganese, vanadium, nickel, and tin.

From a Canadian shell acquired at 12 cents per share with $90 million in tax losses, CoTec assembled a board featuring Rio Tinto's former CEO Tom Albanese and Rio Ventures' John McGagh. They screened 400 technologies, selecting mid-stage innovations at readiness levels 5-9—avoiding lab experiments—for equity stakes, licenses, or partnerships. These enable processing hard rocks, fine particles, and low-grade ores, with a standout in rare earth magnet recycling from e-waste, developed by Birmingham University for over $100 million.

Flagship assets illustrate the model: Quebec's Cartier mine tailings (120 million tons) bought for $2 million, projecting $130-150 million NPV on $60 million capex, while slashing government rehabilitation costs from $200 million to under $100 million. A Minnesota iron ore site, with 2.6 billion tons and a $1 billion NPV, gives CoTec 17% ownership. The U.S. magnet business, 60% owned, plans three $600 million NPV hubs starting production in 2027, addressing China's export blacklists to defense firms. Treger notes ongoing talks with the White House, calling recycling a "very good plan B insurance policy" against supply risks.

Financing emphasizes asset-level raises at 30-40% NPV discounts, using government funds to limit parent dilution and preserve value. Treger prioritizes capital gains over salaries, targeting "warp speed" timelines—2-3 years versus mining's 29-year average. With patents and first-mover access to 10,000+ Canadian closed mines, CoTec positions for strategic minerals in electrification and defense, backed by Treger's $500 million-to-$3 billion investment track record. This nimble model promises outsized returns amid global reshoring.

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