Construction Commenced of Phase 1 Purification Facility for Lithium-ion Battery Material in Bécancour and the Land for Phase...
January 21 2021 - 3:00AM
Nouveau Monde Graphite inc. (“Nouveau Monde” or the “Company”)
(TSXV: NOU; OTCQX: NMGRF; Frankfurt: NM9) is pleased to provide an
update on the buildout of the Phase 1 operation at its move-in
ready space located in Bécancour, Québec (referred to as “BEC1”).
The Company is targeting mid-2021 for the commencement of
production of the first tonnes of high-purity spherical graphite
destined for the high-growth EV and renewable energy sectors. Once
fully ramped up, the nameplate capacity of Phase 1 will be 1,500
tonnes per annum of purified material produced using the first two
state-of-the-art commercial-scale modules. The Company intends to
use this initial production to advance its qualification process
with major battery makers with the objective to secure long-term
supply agreements.
Eric Desaulniers, President and CEO of
Nouveau Monde: “The commercialisation of our
thermochemical purification process is a very important milestone
for the Company. To date, we have been able to ship a limited
number of kilograms to potential clients, however our Phase 1
operation will allow us to send our customers tonnes of our
advanced material. We’re excited but remain clear-headed and
focused on the end goal of becoming a tier-1 supplier of anode
material for lithium-ion batteries.”
Arne H. Frandsen, Chairman of Nouveau
Monde continued : “I am delighted
with the progress and achievements to date. The strategic purchase
of the adjacent land for our Phase 2 expansion, is likewise of
great importance. It will now allow Nouveau Monde to grow the
production within the Bécancour industrial park, allowing for a
safe and cost-efficient expansion of our anode material
production”.
Key advancements at Phase 1
- Since the
beginning of January 2021 this year, Nouveau Monde has been present
at Olin’s facility on a daily basis and is pleased with the pace of
advancement of the Phase 1 work.
- The
transformer-rectifier ordered from Friem in Italy in December 2019
successfully completed a full year of extensive testing. It has
been shipped from Italy on January 3, 2021 and arrived at the Port
of Montreal on January 17. It is scheduled to be delivered onsite
in Bécancour on January 22. All preparatory work related to its
installation is expected to be be completed by the end of
February.
- Upgrades to the
flooring of BEC1, began on January 5 and pouring of concrete is
scheduled to begin next week.
- The installation
of the exterior walls of the two modular furnaces is scheduled to
begin in February.
- Bus bars
(electrical conductors) are being manufactured and their
installation is scheduled to be completed in February.
- Equipment orders
are more than 95% complete, with the majority of deliveries
expected for February and March; critical items related to gas
treatment and handling of chlorine and graphite are expected to
arrive onsite in April and May, ahead of the planned start-up of
the furnaces in late June.
- Detailed
engineering is expected to be completed before the end of January
for mechanical, piping and electrical installation in order to
obtain bids and start construction in March, as planned.
- The control room
and office are expected to be installed in early February.
The Company will continue to update the market
on its social media platforms and website as the construction
continues to advance.
Nouveau Monde Completes the Purchase of
the Phase 2 Site in Bécancour
In the press release dated October 27, 2020,
Nouveau Monde announced that it had signed an option to purchase a
200,000-m² parcel of land adjacent to Olin’s property in the
Bécancour industrial park. The Company announces today that it has
completed the purchase of this property. As the future site of the
Company’s commercial-scale transformation plant, it will produce a
wide range of value-added graphite-based materials. The property
presents no environmental limitations for construction and offers
all necessary infrastructure to have a safe and direct chemical
supply from the adjacent Olin’s property as well as rail, port, and
road access for both importing raw materials and exporting final
products throughout North America and Europe. The Company is
currently finalizing an internal FEL-1 scoping study on its Phase 2
commercial anode material project in Bécancour; the Company will
update the market once the study is completed. Nouveau Monde is
planning, with its modular approach, the production of 40,000
tonnes per annum of anode material for the initial phase, with the
option to expand as the anticipated demand increases in the battery
and speciality markets.
Aerial view of Nouveau Monde’s planned
future commercial operations in Bécancour. Learn more about the
Company’s strategic location here:
https://youtu.be/CGh4ZChdHmc
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1d679f0a-96f3-4777-9b75-bb369ef31c8c
Vertical integration; from mine to
high-quality graphite-based anode material production, all
facilities in close proximity to one another.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1ca0a962-e606-4d41-9077-882c4c46aeeb
Transformer arriving at the Port of
Montréal. Arrival at Bécancour scheduled this Friday, January 22,
2021.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ed6fc821-798f-4fdd-bf61-ea0ec1633ac0
About Nouveau Monde
Nouveau Monde is striving to become a key
element in the sustainable energy revolution. The Company is
working towards developing a fully-integrated source of green
battery anode material in Quebec, Canada. Targeting full-scale
commercial operations by 2023, the Company is developing advanced
carbon-neutral graphite-based material solutions for the growing
lithium-ion and fuel cell markets. With low-cost operations and
high ESG standards, Nouveau Monde aspires to become a strategic
supplier to the world’s leading battery and auto manufacturers,
ensuring robust and reliable advanced material, while guaranteeing
supply chain traceability.
Media |
Investors |
Julie Paquet Director,
Communications Nouveau Monde +1-450-757-8905
#140 jpaquet@nouveaumonde.ca |
Christina Lalli Director,
Investor Relations Nouveau Monde
+1-438-399-8665 clalli@nouveaumonde.ca |
Cautionary Note Regarding
Forward-Looking Information All statements, other
than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release
including, but not limited to (i) the positive impact of
the foregoing on project economics, (ii) the successful and
timely completion of the projected construction of the phase 1 and
phase 2 projects, (iii) the commencement of the anticipated
production and (iv) generally, or the “About Nouveau
Monde” paragraph which essentially describe the Company’s
outlook and objectives, constitute “forward-looking information” or
“forward-looking statements” within the meaning of certain
securities laws, and are based on expectations, estimates and
projections as of the time of this press release. Forward-looking
statements are necessarily based upon a number
of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable
by the Company as of the time of such statements, are inherently
subject to significant business, economic and competitive
uncertainties and contingencies. These estimates and assumptions
may prove to be incorrect. Moreover, these forward-looking
statements were based upon various underlying factors and
assumptions, including the timely delivery and installation of the
referenced equipment and machinery, the Company’s business
prospects and opportunities and estimates of the operational
performance of the referenced equipment and machinery, and are not
guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking
information and statements are subject to known or unknown risks
and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ
materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking
information and statements. Risk factors that could cause actual
results or events to differ materially from current expectations
include, among others, delays in the scheduled delivery times of
the equipment and machinery, the ability of the Company to
successfully implement its strategic initiatives and whether such
strategic initiatives will yield the expected benefits, the
operating performance of the Company’s assets and businesses,
competitive factors in the graphite mining and production industry,
changes in laws and regulations affecting the Company’s businesses,
technological developments, the impacts of the global COVID-19
pandemic and the governments responses thereto, and general
economic conditions. Unpredictable or unknown factors not discussed
in this Cautionary Disclaimer could also have material adverse
effects on forward-looking statements.Many of these uncertainties
and contingencies can directly or indirectly affect, and could
cause, actual results to differ materially from those expressed or
implied in any forward-looking statements. There can be no
assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be
accurate, as actual results and future events could differ
materially from those anticipated in such statements.
Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of
providing information about management’s expectations and plans
relating to the future. The Company disclaims any intention or
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or to
explain any material difference between subsequent actual events
and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required
by applicable law.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its
Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the
policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for
the adequacy or accuracy of this
release. Further information regarding Company
is available in the SEDAR database (www.sedar.com) and on the
Company’s website at: www.NouveauMonde.ca
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