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<\/p>\nPrime Minister Mark Carney is touting the start of construction at a Quebec graphite\u00a0mine\u00a0that is slated to become the largest of its kind in North America, once completed.<\/p>\n
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The Nouveau Monde Graphite\u2019s Matawinie\u00a0mine\u00a0in Quebec\u2019s Lanaudi\u00e8re region is expected to produce 106,000 tonnes of graphite annually.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters at the\u00a0mine, Carney said that no other G7 country has a\u00a0mine\u00a0that can produce as much graphite as the Matawinie site.<\/p>\n
He also said that breaking ground on construction was a sign that Canada is getting its resources from mines to the market \u201cat an unprecedented pace.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Matawinie\u00a0mine, located about 120 kilometres north of Montreal, is the latest infrastructure project to get fast-tracked by the Carney government through Canada\u2019s Major Projects Office.<\/p>\n
Carney said the\u00a0mine\u00a0could generate nearly $2 billion for Canada\u2019s economy and create 1,000 jobs from skilled trades to engineering, while noting that graphite is a critical material needed for electric vehicle batteries as well as defence and aerospace technologies.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCarney breaks ground on Nouveau Monde Graphite\u2019s Matawinie Mine in Qu\u00e9bec\u00a0\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
He added that he hoped to export Quebec\u2019s graphite to trading partners in Asia and Europe like Japan and Italy. He said he had already spoken with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni about the partnership.<\/p>\n
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\u201cNon-U.S. exports are up sharply, and we\u2019re on track to double them over the next decade,\u201d Carney said. \u201cWe can supply the minerals and energy to countries battered by fears for their supply chains.\u201d<\/p>\n
The government said it is providing a $459 million financing package to support and speed up the project.<\/p>\n
A battery material plant will be built in B\u00e9cancour, Que. to refine the extracted graphite.<\/p>\n
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The federal government said it is committed to offering Nouveau Monde Graphite a guaranteed sales price for 30,000 tonnes per year for seven years from a list of customers in strategic, civil and military sectors.<\/p>\n
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According to the Prime Minister, the Nouveau Monde Graphite mining project was submitted to the Major Projects Office six months ago despite having operating permits since 2021.<\/p>\n
Construction of the\u00a0mine\u00a0is expected to take two years and the company aims to reach full commercial production by the end of 2028.<\/p>\n
While Carney and Nouveau Monde Graphite founder and CEO Eric Desaulniers said social acceptability and environmental protections are key for the project, some residents in the area worry about the mine\u2019s impact on local forests, water and air quality.<\/p>\n
A coalition formed in 2016, Coalition des opposants \u00e0 un projet minier en Haute-Matawinie, said it opposed the federal government\u2019s decision to fast-track the mining project last November.<\/p>\n
Desaulniers said it\u2019s \u201cnormal for residents to be concerned about a mining project of this scale\u201d but assured that \u201cwe conducted very detailed impact studies on soil, water and air.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said various government authorizations were required to proceed with the project, including an approval by Quebec in 2021.<\/p>\n
The Chief of the Atikamekw Nation of Manawan, Sipi Flamand, was present at the announcement and said he supports the project.<\/p>\n
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