공고 • Dec 19
Nouveau Monde Graphite Achieves Significant Milestones, Successfully Establishing Its Position as Leading Vertically-Integrated Lithium-Ion Battery Anode Company for the Electric Vehicle and Clean Energy Revolution
Nouveau Monde Graphite delivered on its commitment to advance its vertically-integrated graphite project in order to offer the electric vehicle ("EV") and renewable energy sectors, ethically-sourced and carbon-neutral, lithium-ion battery ("LiB") anode material by 2023. In January, Nouveau Monde signed a collaboration and benefit-sharing agreement with the Saint-Michel-des-Saints and Upper Matawanie community. Recognising the importance of local stakeholders, the agreement is the most progressive of its kind in Quebec's history. The agreement covers the mine's entire commercial operating life and will see Nouveau Monde contribute up to 2% of its net cash flow after taxes to the municipality to boost community development and reinvestment. Nouveau Monde will also contribute 1% of its net cash flow after taxes to a Community Fund to stimulate developmental projects in Upper Matawinie that have a social, economic and environmental impact during and beyond the mine's operating period. The bilateral agreement includes concrete actions in the areas of training, employability and business opportunities for the local population; the integration of the mining project into the territory through recreation and tourism development; and collaboration mechanisms to provide short-, medium- and long-term benefits for the community. In February, the Company successfully commissioned its demonstration micronisation and spheronisation operations and confirmed that the graphite concentrate from its Matawinie deposit is attractive for use in lithium-ion batteries. This has been confirmed through ongoing potential customer discussions for pre-qualification. Also in the first quarter, the Company announced an updated NI43-101 pit-constrained Mineral Resource Estimate for its West Zone Deposit, located in the Tony Claim Block, which is part of its Matawinie graphite property, with an increase of 25% in the combined Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource categories. Matawinie has 120.3 million tonnes @ 4.26% Cg, and as the largest graphite project in North America with significant expansion potential in other Zones on the property, Nouveau Monde is well-positioned to be a key supplier to meet the future growth of the electric vehicle market. In July, Nouveau Monde received a positive evaluation from the Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement ("BAPE") regarding its Matawanie project, and all aspects including the economic, environmental and social parameters developed by Nouveau Monde. The report recognized the economic justification, environmental innovations, integration measures and social benefits associated with the mining project. In September, Nouveau Monde announced sales across North America, Europe and Asia, an important step in the commercialisation of advanced carbon-neutral materials. In response to growing interaction with major EV companies and other major potential customers, Nouveau Monde opened a European sales office, in London, United Kingdom. In October, Nouveau Monde announced two significant industry partnerships. The first, a multi-phase partnership with global chemical major, Olin Corporation, for its proprietary purification demonstration plant in Bécancour that will be commissioned by mid-2021, and later, for the commercial battery anode purification operations in 2023, when significant global battery-grade natural graphite shortages are expected to emerge. The second, a collaboration with US-based Forge Nano, an advanced nano-coating company backed by industry leaders such as Volkswagen, LG Technology Ventures and Mutsui. Through the application of Forge Nano's proprietary Atomic Layer Deposition ("ALD") coating technology, the company expects Nouveau Monde to be able to offer a premium product to the lithium-ion battery market. In November, Nouveau Monde was twice selected as a key partner by the Quebec Government for its electrification and critical minerals strategy. The first, as partner to the Quebec and Canadian Governments to showcase all-electric open-pit mining equipment, leveraging Quebec's clean and affordable hydropower. The second, to drive the implementation of the Global Battery Alliance's ("GBA") Battery Passport principles in Quebec, guaranteeing the traceability and sustainability of strategic minerals. The GBA includes members such as Audi, BMW Group, Google, Groupe Renault, Honda Motors, the International Energy Agency, LG Chem, Microsoft, Mitsubishi Corp., Propulsion Québec, Saft, SK Innovation, the United Nations Environment Programme, Umicore, Volkswagen, Volvo Group and the project positions Nouveau Monde well for future product commercialisation.