Nouveau Monde Graphite has officially started construction of the Matawinie graphite mine in Saint-Michel-des-Saints, Québec, advancing the project toward development of an integrated natural graphite production platform in the G7. The construction and commissioning phase is expected to take approximately 31 months, with full commercial production targeted by the end of 2028.
Matawinie Designed for 106,000 Tonnes of Annual Graphite Output
The Matawinie mine is planned to produce an estimated average of 106,000 tonnes of graphite per year. Nouveau Monde said more than 70% of expected production is already supported by commercial agreements with counterparties including Panasonic Energy, the Government of Canada and Traxys North America.
The existing offtake commitments provide customer coverage for planned production while the project advances through construction. Graphite developments face requirements related to product qualification, customer specifications and competition from established processing supply chains.
Project Included in Canada’s Critical Minerals Strategy
The Matawinie project has been designated as a major project of national interest by the Government of Canada, reflecting its role in developing domestic graphite supply capacity.
Construction activities involve federal, provincial, Indigenous and local stakeholders as the project moves forward. The development is positioned within efforts to establish a domestic mine-to-battery-materials supply chain.
Construction Phase Tests Project Execution
With construction underway, Nouveau Monde is moving from project development activities into physical delivery of the mine infrastructure. The company must continue construction activities according to schedule while maintaining commercial agreements with customers. The downstream Bécancour battery-material plant remains subject to its own final investment decision. The start of construction represents a key development milestone as the company advances toward planned graphite production from Matawinie in 2028.
