To meet the demand from battery manufacturers seeking locally
sourced and environmentally friendly materials, Nouveau Monde
Graphite Inc. (“Nouveau Monde” or the “Company”) (TSXV: NOU; OTCQX:
NMGRF; Frankfurt: NM9) is advancing with the development of its
portfolio of coated spherical purified graphite (“CSPG”) by setting
up a production line with a planned capacity of up to 2,000 tonnes
per year (Phase 1) and continuing its research and development
(“R&D”) initiatives.
Jonatan Julien, Québec Minister of
Energy and Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the
Côte-Nord region, mentioned: "Our government is proud to
support the activities of Nouveau Monde Graphite, a company
involved in the battery market. The objective of our program is to
support companies in carrying out their research and development
projects in order to innovate and improve the competitiveness of
Québec's mining industry.”
Eric Desaulniers, President and CEO of
Nouveau Monde, explains: “I am excited about our progress
in R&D for value-added anode materials. I am sure the coating
initiative will prove to be a wise investment, as it further
supports our vertically integrated business model. Our ongoing
commercial discussions with the end-users have confirmed the
importance of coated products that are ready for use in lithium-ion
battery anodes as part of our international growth strategy. By
covering the entire value chain from the mine to advanced
materials, we are proposing to provide our customers with a turnkey
solution that combines high quality, a carbon-neutral footprint,
low costs, and guaranteed traceability.”
Arne H. Frandsen, Chairman of Nouveau
Monde continued: “On behalf of the board, I am grateful
for the further show of support from the Québec Government. Its
ongoing and tangible support for companies like Nouveau Monde,
helps position Québec as the ‘North American Electrification Hub.’
Our research partnership with the distinct Québec-based McGill
University is also a show of Nouveau Monde’s commitment to the
Québec centre of excellence for battery materials R&D.”
Currently, production of CSPG is located
entirely within Asia. With exponential growth expected in battery
production to support the electric vehicle and energy storage
industry, demand for graphite anode materials is forecasted to
reach over 2.8M tonnes in 2025, with CSPG representing a
significant proportion of this amount (Benchmark Minerals
Intelligence, Lithium-Ion Battery Megafactory Assessment, January
2021). Roskill’s Fall 2020 issue reported 2019 average Chinese
sales prices of US$7,157/tonne for CSPG material with
specifications similar to the anode material that is expected to be
produced by Nouveau Monde.
Full Integration Ensures Operational
Control and Product Line Diversity is available at
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Through Nouveau Monde’s continuing R&D
efforts, the recruitment of specialists in natural graphite, carbon
and industrial chemistry — including talent from Asia — as well as
research partnerships, Nouveau Monde believes it is on track to
become a strategic supplier for Western World manufacturers. The
high-grade graphite concentrate from Nouveau Monde’s Matawinie
deposit, combined with the availability of sustainable and abundant
hydroelectricity from Hydro Québec are expected to advantageously
position the Company in this market.
Commencement of CSPG Anode Material
Production
The first phase of CSPG production involves
installing a coating line with a planned capacity of up to 2,000
tonnes per year at the Company’s plant. This coating line is
intended to transform the spherical and flake graphite purified at
Nouveau Monde’s purification facilities using the established
coating process for which laboratory testing has shown superior
performance over the anode material from Asian commercial
producers.
Detailed engineering on long-lead equipment is
complete and procurement has now commenced. Nouveau Monde plans to
launch the production and sales of CSPG in Q1-2022.
In order to manage the risk profile, the Company
is applying its proven phased development strategy. By implementing
a modular approach, Nouveau Monde seeks to reduce the risks
associated with new operations, including the optimisation of its
coating process, and support the design developments as it grows
its commercial anode material facilities.
The capacity of the main equipment selected for
this production line could potentially be tripled through an
upgrade in the medium term, which is expected to significantly
reduce the future investments required once full-scale commercial
operations commence at the Phase-2 facilities in Bécancour,
Québec.
Concurrent with its efforts to develop a
comprehensive industrial batteries ecosystem on its territory, the
Québec government’s Programme d'appui à la recherche et à
l'innovation du domaine minier (PARIDM) has awarded Nouveau Monde
with a grant of $600,000 to support the development of its coating
operations.
Advanced and Proprietary Research
Initiatives
In addition, Nouveau Monde is continuing to
develop advanced materials to remain at the forefront of industry
trends and strives to offer the highest performing and most
environmentally friendly lithium-ion battery anode material
portfolio on the market.
To this end, coating enables each small sphere
of purified graphite to be covered with an amorphous carbon coating
that reduces the graphite’s porosity, decreases exfoliation, and
therefore increases the performance and life span of
batteries.
The Company is working with materials
engineering expert Philippe Ouzilleau, a professor at McGill
University, and his research team to develop new types of
precursors and coating technologies (e.g., from biomass) to reduce
the environmental footprint of these products, optimize production
costs, and improve the properties for existing performance.
Nouveau Monde is also collaborating with Forge
Nano to conduct laboratory testing to evaluate its Atomic Laser
Deposition coating technology on the Company’s CSPG. These tests
are expected to confirm the superior performance of the “double
coating” and therefore enhance Nouveau Monde’s advanced product
portfolio.
About Nouveau MondeNouveau
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 Québec,
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 |
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Julie Paquet Director,
Communications +1-450-757-8905
#140jpaquet@nouveaumonde.ca |
Christina Lalli Director,
Investor
Relations +1-438-399-8665 clalli@nouveaumonde.ca |
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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 commencement of the
production and sales of the CSPG, (iii) the capacity of the future
production line, (iv) the results of the ongoing R&D
initiatives and (v) 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 equipment supporting
the production, the Company’s business prospects and opportunities
and estimates of the operational performance of the equipment, 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, 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.group
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