people · May 21, 2026
Nouveau Monde Graphite Launches Construction of Matawinie Mine in Quebec
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Nouveau Monde Graphite held a groundbreaking ceremony on May 19, 2026 for the Phase-2 Matawinie mine project in Saint-Michel-des-Saints, Quebec. The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Mark Carney, Quebec Minister Bernard Drainville, Atikamekw Chief Sipi Flamand and Mayor Mario Venne. Construction is expected to take approximately 31 months with full commercial production targeted for end of 2028 at an average annual rate of 106,000 tonnes of graphite plus a 13,000 tonnes per year battery material plant in Bécancour. Eric Desaulniers, President and CEO of Nouveau Monde Graphite, addressed the audience at the event. The project received a $309.5 million equity financing package closed on May 15, 2026 and features offtake agreements covering more than 70 percent of expected production with Panasonic Energy, the Government of Canada and Traxys North America.