Focus Graphite Engages NewFields Canada Mining & Environment to Design the Tailing Storage Facility and Water Management System for its Lac Knife Graphite Project in Québec The new TSF will be designed to optimize the physical and geochemical stability of the
Focus Graphite Engages NewFields Canada Mining & Environment to Design the
Tailing Storage Facility and Water Management System for its Lac Knife Graphite
Project in Québec
The new TSF will be designed to optimize the physical and geochemical stability of the
tailings pile and meet global standards and best practices for environmental safety
and water quality
KINGSTON, ONTARIO – September 21, 2021) - Focus Graphite Inc. (TSX VENTURE:FMS)
(OTCQX:FCSMF) (FRANKFURT:FKC) ("Focus" or the "Company") is pleased to announce
that it has retained the services of NewFields Canada Mining & Environment ULC
(“NewFields”), a Saskatoon-based environmental, engineering and construction firm, to
design the tailings storage facility and water management system at its Lac Knife flake
graphite project, located on the Southwestern edge of the Labrador Trough next to the
towns of Fermont and Wabush on the Nitassinan of Innu Takuaikan Uashat mak Mani-
utenam (ITUM).
As per its agreement signed August 6, 2021, with Focus, NewFields will begin by reviewing
the suitability of the site that was selected for the tailings storage facility (TSF) when a
Feasibility Study for the project was completed in August 2014 1. It will also examine the
feasibility of implementing a filtered (dry stack) tailings management system at Lac Knife
rather than more conventional slurry type tailings system designs. The new TSF design
will be optimized for physical and geochemical stability, safety, and environmental
protection extending well beyond the end of mining operations.
In addition to tailings management system design, NewFields will investigate options for
onsite waste rock management to address any potential water drainage issues. It is
currently working with Focus and geological consultants IOS Services Géoscientifiques to
conduct a geochemical characterization of tailings and waste rock materials at Lac Knife.
This information will also be used to develop optimal site water management and control,
along with water treatment processes.
“Graphite is essential for many forms of renewable energy, and this project will be an
important contributor to the green economy,” said Leon Botham, Principal Engineer and
Tailings Management Specialist at NewFields, who is the lead environmental engineer on
the project. “It’s important to provide safe, effective treatment and disposal of waste
1 Available at www.sedar.com under Focus Graphite Inc.
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materials and process waters to ensure that the Lac Knife project itself is as ‘green’ as the
minerals Focus plans to extract.”
“NewFields is an established, international environmental engineering company with a
proven track record in designing effective tailings and waste rock management systems
at mine sites around the world,” said Marc Roy, President and CEO of Focus Graphite. “It
is very important to us at Focus to advance the Lac Knife project, and all our projects,
using methods that cause minimal impact to natural ecosystems including protecting the
quality of groundwater and surface water. We’re confident that Leon and the NewFields
team share our values and approach in this regard.”
NewFields joins IOS Services Géoscientifiques Inc., DRA Americas Inc., Wood plc., Table
Jamésienne de Concertation Minière (TJCM), and Richelieu Hydrogéologie Inc. in working
with Focus to advance the Lac Knife project and update its Lac Knife FS and Environmental
and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) reports, both of which were initially filed in 2014.
These updates are currently underway.
Qualified Person
Mr. Marc-André Bernier, géo. (QC), P.Geo. (ON), M.Sc., senior geoscientist for Table
Jamésienne de Concertation Minière, a consultant to the Company and a Qualified Person
as defined under National Instrument (NI) 43 – 101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral
Projects has reviewed and approved the technical content this news release.
About NewFields
Established in 1995, NewFields is an environmental, engineering, and construction
management consulting firm that provides access to a global network of recognized
experts and professionals who work together to resolve clients’ complex business needs.
They specialize in developing and deploying knowledge management and information
technologies that seek solutions for our clients – safely, efficiently, effectively and
consciously.
For more information, please visit www.newfields.com.
About Focus Graphite
Focus Graphite Inc. is an exploration and development company that seeks to produce
flake graphite concentrate at its wholly owned Lac Knife and Lac Tétépisca flake graphite
projects located in the Côte-Nord administrative region of Québec. As part of its mission
to build long-term, sustainable shareholder value, Focus is also evaluating the feasibility
of producing value-added specialty graphite products, including battery-grade spherical
graphite. Focus Graphite is a technology-oriented graphite development company with
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a vision for building long-term, sustainable shareholder value. Focus also holds an equity
position in graphene applications developer Grafoid Inc.
For more information about Focus Graphite, please visit www.focusgraphite.com.
Forward-Looking Statement
This news release may contain certain forward-looking information and statements,
including without limitation, the closing of the Offerings, statements pertaining to the use
of proceeds, and the Company’s ability to obtain necessary approvals from the TSX
Venture Exchange. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact,
are forward-looking information and such information involves various risks and
uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate,
and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such
information. A description of assumptions used to develop such forward-looking
information and a description of risk factors that may cause actual results to differ
materially from forward-looking information can be found in Focus Graphite’s disclosure
documents on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. The Company does not undertake
to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities
laws.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that
term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility
for the accuracy of this release.
For more information, please contact:
Kimberly Darlington
Communications, Focus Graphite
Judith Mazvihwa-Maclean
CFO, Focus Graphite
(613) 581-4040