A new phase started this month as Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc.
(“Nouveau Monde” or the “Company”) (NYSE: NMG, TSXV : NOU)
launched civil construction works for its flagship Matawinie
graphite mining project located in Saint-Michel-des-Saints, 120 km
north of Montréal, Québec. Over the past months, the Company has
steadily advanced detailed engineering and engaged in the
procurement of key service providers, long-lead equipment, and
contractors to deliver the project by the end of 2023.
Construction Program for Safe and
Efficient Execution of the Matawinie Project
Following the governmental authorization of the
project this past February, Nouveau Monde executed its phased
program to initiate preliminary works in March. For the site
preparation of the mine industrial platform and the access road
connecting the project to the local highway, tree clearing was
completed before the nesting season to limit impacts to avifauna.
Wood harvested as part of the preliminary works is being
transformed by regional sawmills and wood product manufacturers to
optimize carbon sequestration and local economic benefits.
Arne H Frandsen, Chairman of Nouveau
Monde said: “The construction of our mine is now underway,
and our team is single-mindedly focused on successfully delivering
this important project, on time and on budget – always being
mindful of the highest levels of environmental and social
standards.”
Eric Desaulniers, President and CEO of
Nouveau Monde, commented: “This first milestone kick
starts the construction of the Matawinie mine, as we strive to
build the high-quality, ethical, and sustainable project that can
cater to the growing EV and energy storage markets. We have spent
the past months refining our execution plan to carry out
engineering, procurement, and construction activities safely and
with a focus on cost and timeline efficiency. I am confident in the
expertise of the technical team that we have assembled, coupled
with the support of tier-1 service providers such as Metso Outotec,
L. Fournier & Fils and many local contractors, to deliver on
our commitments of safety, responsible practices, and
excellence.”
To protect the environment and the community's
well-being, Nouveau Monde has developed an environmental
surveillance and monitoring program to oversee the construction,
operation and closure activities of the Matawinie project. Nouveau
Monde has hired an environmental coordinator to support
construction and environmental monitoring activities on-site and
enlisted third-party biologists to conduct inspections for the
presence of vulnerable species.
Nouveau Monde is also delivering on its
commitment to maximize local opportunities and support service
providers by engaging with Atikamekw, local and regional
contractors and service providers via dedicated activities related
to its construction procurement strategy, the associated business
opportunities, as well as health, environment and safety
requirements for bidding.
In parallel, detailed engineering is
progressing, enabling the Company to advance its procurement
efforts for construction contracts and ore processing
equipment.
Nouveau Monde has retained specialized mining
contractor L. Fournier & Fils (“Fournier”) to build the access
road connecting the main Highway 131 to Matawinie’s industrial
platform. Works for the 7.8-km access road began in July as part of
the Company’s pragmatic 30-month construction and commissioning
timeline. Construction of the access road is scheduled to be
completed in September 2021 to facilitate subsequent civil works
and on-site activities.
Concentrator Technology Optimization for
High-Purity Graphite Flake Production
The Company has signed an agreement with Metso
Outotec (the “Agreement”), a leading global service provider
specializing in sustainable minerals processing technologies and
end-to-end solutions, to supply key mineral processing equipment
required for the Matawinie concentrator plant.
The Agreement will support the development of
design and integration efficiencies through process equipment chain
optimization objectives. It also seeks to promote planning efforts,
optimization of the project cost curve and support the Company
during the construction, commissioning, and operation phases. This
Agreement complements Nouveau Monde’s de-risking strategy and helps
ensure a rapid progression of final design elements and
construction of the ore processing facility.
A portion of the proceeds from the Company’s
recent public financing with top-tier institutional investors will
be applied towards detailed engineering for the Matawinie Mine,
construction of the access road and procurement of long-lead items.
In parallel, the Company continues its efforts to prepare and seek
a complete financing package to construct the Matawinie Mine
project.
About Nouveau Monde
Nouveau Monde is striving to become a key
contributor to the sustainable energy revolution. The Company is
working towards developing a fully integrated source of green
battery anode material in Québec, Canada. Targeting 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
enviable ESG standards, Nouveau Monde aspires to become a strategic
supplier to the world’s leading battery and automobile
manufacturers, providing high performing and reliable advanced
materials while promoting sustainability and supply chain
traceability.
About Metso Outotec
Metso Outotec is a frontrunner in sustainable
technologies, end-to-end solutions and services for the
aggregates, minerals processing and metals refining industries
globally. By improving their customers’ energy and water
efficiency, increasing their productivity, and reducing
environmental risks with their product and
process expertise, they are a perfect partner for
positive change. Metso Outotec is committed to limiting global
warming to 1.5°C with Science Based Targets. they ranked 8th on the
2021 Global 100 list of the world’s most sustainable companies.
Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Metso Outotec employs over
15,000 people in more than 50 countries and its sales for 2020
were about EUR 3.9 billion. The company is listed on the
Nasdaq Helsinki. mogroup.com
About Fournier
As a major mining contractor in Eastern Canada,
Fournier offers an integrated range of high quality products and
services to efficiently meet the evolving needs of its customers.
Its activities focus on surface mining, particularly in the areas
of mass excavation, formwork and concreting, crushing, and
transportation. In business since 1938, Fournier has become over
time a dynamic general contractor, recognized in the industrial,
civil and mining fields. With more than twenty mining projects to
its credit, Fournier counts a considerable number of partnerships
and contracts across Canada. Faithful to its deep family values,
the company continues to innovate by developing long-lasting
partnerships, while remaining true to the values that define it:
Safety, its team, rigor and excellence.
Media |
Investors |
Julie Paquet VP
Communications & ESG StrategyNouveau Monde +1-450-757-8905
#140jpaquet@nouveaumonde.ca |
Christina Lalli Director,
Investor RelationsNouveau
Monde+1-438-399-8665 clalli@nouveaumonde.ca |
Subscribe to our news feed: https://NMG.com/investors/#news
Cautionary Note Regarding
Forward-Looking Information All statements, other than
statements of historical fact, contained in this press release
including, but not limited to those related to the Company’s
objective of developing the largest high-purity graphite production
of the Western World, the timelines of the various initiatives and
deliverables described in this press release, the intended results
of the agreement with Metso Outotec, the use of the proceeds from
the Company’s recent public financing as described in this press
release, the Company’s plans in relation to the financing package
to construct the Matawinie Mine project and those statements which
are discussed under the “About Nouveau Monde” paragraph and
elsewhere in the press release 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 availability of financing or financing on favourable
terms for the Company, the dependence on commodity prices, the
impact of inflation on costs, the risks of obtaining the necessary
permits, 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, political and social acceptability risk,
environmental regulation risk, currency and exchange rate risk,
technological developments, the impacts of the global COVID-19
pandemic and the governments’ responses thereto, and general
economic conditions, as well as earnings, capital expenditure, cash
flow and capital structure risks and general business risks.
Unpredictable or unknown factors not discussed in this Cautionary
Note 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 the Company is
available in the SEDAR database (www.sedar.com), and for United
States readers on EDGAR (www.sec.gov), and on the Company’s
website at: www.NMG.com
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c768b6f8-85eb-46b1-bc92-0c29be6c516c
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