Focus Graphite Advances Lac Knife Infrastructure Planning with Road and Power Evaluation; Chairman Converts $500,000 Loan to Equity Preliminary access road and powerline assessment strengthens development pathway and highlights emerging
Focus Graphite Advances Lac Knife
Infrastructure Planning with Road and Power
Evaluation; Chairman Converts $500,000 Loan
to Equity
Preliminary access road and powerline assessment
strengthens development pathway and highlights emerging
logistics advantage under Quebec's northern infrastructure
buildout
Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 12, 2026) -
Focus Graphite Inc. (TSXV: FMS) (OTCQB:
FCSMF) (FSE: FKC0)
("
Focus
" or the "
Company
") a Canadian developer of high-grade flake
graphite deposits and advanced graphite materials for battery, defence, and industrial applications, is
pleased to announce that it has engaged Norda-Stelo ("
Norda
"), a leading Canadian engineering firm
specializing in infrastructure design, transportation engineering and energy systems, to conduct corridor
selection and preliminary evaluation of access road and electrical infrastructure options for its Lac Knife
Graphite Project ("
Lac Knife
" or the "
Project
") in Quebec.
Formerly known as Groupe-Conseil Roche, Norda has extensive experience supporting infrastructure
development across Quebec, including work associated with the broader Highway 389 corridor. The
work will be coordinated from Norda's Saguenay—Chicoutimi office and will be conducted under the
supervision and management of IOS Geosciences Inc. ("
IOS
"), the Company's geological consultant and
general contractor for the Project.
The mandate includes identifying and recommending optimal corridor for a new all-season access road
linking the Project site to the newly upgraded section of Quebec's Highway 389, currently under
reconstruction a few kilometres north of the Project as part of the province's northern infrastructure
strategy. The mandate also includes evaluating the optimal corridor for the construction of a private
powerline connection.
The study will include:
Final corridor selection for a year-round gravel access road of approximately 6-10 kilometres
Preliminary geotechnical, hydrological and environmental planning
Conceptual design of an approximately 30-kilometres private 35.5-kilovolt powerline
Evaluation of grid connection options to Hydro-Quebec's Normand or Bloom Lake substations
The engineering evaluation is expected to be delivered by the end of May 2026, enabling environmental
baseline work and geotechnical surveys to be conducted during the summer 2026 field season.
Permanent site access and reliable electrical power will be critical for future development phases of the
Project, including the construction and operation of a planned pilot-scale processing facility.
"Infrastructure is fundamental to the long-term development of Lac Knife. As we advance the project
toward future permitting and development activities, establishing reliable road and power access
strengthens our logistical advantage and reinforces the project's potential to supply high-grade graphite
to North American and international battery, defence and advanced materials supply chains," said Dean
Hanisch, Chief Executive Officer of Focus Graphite.
The Company believes the ongoing modernization of Quebec's Highway 389 corridor represents a
significant infrastructure catalyst for the Project. While Lac Knife is currently accessible by vehicle via
existing unmaintained dirt roads and trails, including the historical Comstock-Mazarin route, these routes
are not designed for large-scale, year-round industrial operations and may become difficult to access
during winter months.
A permanent access road connecting Lac Knife to the upgraded Highway 389 corridor would provide
year-round transportation access for personnel and equipment, improved mine construction logistics,
safer and more reliable workforce mobility, and efficient shipment of graphite concentrate toward
downstream processing facilities and global markets.
Highway 389 is currently being modernized under Quebec's Route 389 Improvement Program, led by the
Ministere des Transports et de la Mobilite durable (MTMD) and supported by the Societe du Plan Nord.
The Quebec Infrastructure Plan 2025-2035 lists the project among the province's major northern
infrastructure investments, with approximately $493 million allocated to reconstruction work between Fire
Lake and Fermont, with construction continuing through the coming decade.
The corridor forms a key transportation link across Quebec's Cote-Nord and Labrador Trough mining
region, connecting resource projects to industrial infrastructure and the deep-water port of Baie-
Comeau, approximately 520 kilometres south of Lac Knife.
The Company has applied for federal and provincial infrastructure funding programs related to the
proposed access road and powerline development and is currently awaiting the results of those
applications. The Company believes the scope of work aligns with government priorities supporting
critical minerals development, northern infrastructure investment, secure battery, defence and advanced
material supply chains, and regional economic development.
Chairman Converts Portion of Loan to Equity
The Company is also pleased to announce that Chairman Jeff York has initiated the conversion of a
portion of his longstanding loan to the Company into equity, reinforcing his continued commitment to
Focus Graphite.
Over the years, Mr. York, through his holding company JJJY Holdings Inc., has provided C$1,335,000 in
private financing to the Company. As part of this ongoing support, Mr. York has elected to convert
C$500,000 of this loan into 1,388,889 common shares of the Company at a price of C$0.36 per share.
The shares-for-debt transaction remains subject to approval by the TSX Venture Exchange.
Qualified Person
The technical content disclosed in this news release was reviewed and approved by Rejean Girard,
P.Geo. (QC), President of IOS Geosciences Inc., a consultant to the Company, and a qualified person
as defined under National Instrument NI-43-101.
About Focus Graphite Advanced Materials Inc.
Focus Graphite Advanced Materials is redefining the future of critical minerals with two 100% owned
world-class graphite projects and cutting-edge battery technology. Our flagship Lac Knife project stands
as one of the most advanced high-purity graphite deposits in North America, with a fully completed
feasibility study. Lac Knife is set to become a key supplier for the battery, defense, and advanced
materials industries.
Our Lac Tetepisca project further strengthens our portfolio, with the potential to be one of the largest and
highest-purity and grade graphite deposits in North America. At Focus, we go beyond mining - we are
pioneering environmentally sustainable processing solutions and innovative battery technologies,
including our patent-pending silicon-enhanced spheroidized graphite, designed to enhance battery
performance and efficiency.
Our commitment to innovation ensures a chemical-free, eco-friendly supply chain from mine to market.
Collaboration is at the core of our vision. We actively partner with industry leaders, research institutions,
and government agencies to accelerate the commercialization of next-generation graphite materials. As
a North American company, we are dedicated to securing a resilient, locally sourced supply of critical
minerals — reducing dependence on foreign-controlled markets and driving the transition to a
sustainable future.
For more information on Focus Graphite Inc. please visit
http://www.focusgraphite.com
.
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/focus-graphite/
X:
https://x.com/focusgraphite
Investors Contact:
Dean Hanisch
CEO, Focus Graphite Inc.
+1 (613) 612-6060
Jason Latkowcer
VP Corporate Development
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These
statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could," "intend,"
"expect," "believe," "will," "projected," "estimated," and similar expressions, as well as statements
relating to matters that are not historical facts, are intended to identify forward-looking information and
are based on the Company's current beliefs or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such
future events.
In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information regarding, among other things,
the scope, timing and completion of the road and power infrastructure evaluation for the Lac Knife
Project; the identification and selection of potential corridors for an all-season access road and private
powerline connection to the Project; the anticipated delivery of the engineering evaluation and the
completion of environmental baseline work and geotechnical surveys; the potential development of
permanent site access and electrical infrastructure; the possible construction and operation of a pilot-
scale processing facility; the anticipated benefits of the modernization of Quebec's Highway 389
corridor for the Project; the Company's applications for federal and provincial infrastructure funding
programs; the advancement and future development of the Lac Knife Project; and the completion of
the shares-for-debt transaction, including receipt of approval from the TSX Venture Exchange.
Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors
that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed
or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks
related to market conditions, regulatory approvals, changes in economic conditions, the ability to
raise sufficient funds on acceptable terms or at all, operational risks associated with mineral
exploration and development, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's public
disclosure documents available under its profile on SEDAR+.
The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and the
Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of
new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because
of the risks, uncertainties, and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue
reliance on forward-looking information.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit
https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/288231