Northern Graphite Plans to Further Reduce Carbon Footprint of Bissett Creek Project
Northern Graphite Plans to Further Reduce
Carbon Footprint of Bissett Creek Project
Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 9, 2022) - Northern Graphite Corporation
(TSXV: NGC) (OTC
Pink: NGPHF) (FSE: ONG) (XSTU: ONG)
(the "
Company
" or "
Northern
") is pleased to announce
that Minviro Ltd. ("Minviro") has updated its
Life Cycle Assessment ("LCA") on the production of graphite
concentrate from the Bissett Creek deposit to include the benefits of an electric mining fleet.
Minviro has
estimated that by using electricity from the Ontario grid to power both the mining fleet (rather than diesel)
and the processing plant (instead of using natural gas), the Global Warming Potential ("GWP") of the
Bissett Creek project could be reduced by approximately 80 per cent, from 2.2 kilograms ("kg") of CO
2
eq. per kg of graphite produced to 0.45 kg of CO
2
eq.
Minviro's report is publicly available
here
.
Northern commissioned Minviro's report to help guide the Company in developing a carbon neutral
project. Additionally, Minviro benchmarked the potential carbon footprint of Bissett Creek against the
production of Chinese natural and synthetic graphite and their upgrade into battery anode material
("BAM").
Minviro estimated that Li-ion battery anode material, also known as coated spherical purified graphite
("CSPG"), manufactured from Bissett Creek mine concentrates under the optimized scenario would
have a carbon footprint of 6.3 kg of CO
2
eq. per kg of product.
In comparison, the carbon footprint of
Chinese CSPG produced from natural graphite is estimated at 16.8 kg of CO
2
eq.
and 17 kg of CO
2
eq.
if produced from synthetic graphite.
The Chinese estimates do not include the carbon footprint of
transporting CSPG to North America.
Gregory Bowes, Northern's CEO commented, "The Minviro report clearly identifies options to reduce
Bissett Creek's carbon footprint to levels where carbon neutrality can be economically achieved by
purchasing carbon offsets.
However, Northern intends to very proactively identify opportunities to create
its own carbon credits as part of its land stewardship obligations with respect to the Company's mining
leases."
Life Cycle Analysis is a cradle-to-gate study that assesses project impacts from the point of resource
extraction to the end product.
The Minviro study follows the Greenhouse Gas ("GHG") Protocol and has
been conducted according to the requirements of the ISO-14040:2006 and ISO-14044:2006, including a
third-party review from LCA experts to ensure that it is scientifically robust.
A number of parameters were
calculated using high level assumptions and further testing, data collection and analysis will be
conducted.
About the Bissett Creek Project
An independent study has rated Bissett Creek the highest margin graphite project in the world, including
existing producing mines.
This is due to its very high percentage of valuable large flake graphite, simple
metallurgy and favorable location which provides ready access to equipment, supplies, labor, grid
power, natural gas and markets.
The Bissett Creek deposit is located in the southern part of Canada between the cities of North Bay and
Ottawa and 15 kms from the Trans Canada Highway.
A full Feasibility Study has been completed for the
construction of a graphite mine producing 20-25,000 tonnes per year of concentrate.
Measured and
indicated resources are sufficient to support a much higher rate of production and the Company is re-
evaluating its development plans in light of the substantial growth in EV/battery markets.
The results of
this process are expected to be announced in the coming months.
About Northern Graphite
Northern Graphite is a Canadian company, listed on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"), focussed on
becoming a world leading producer of natural graphite and upgraded, high value products critical to the
green energy revolution including anode material for lithium-ion batteries/EVs, fuel cells and graphene,
as well as advanced industrial technologies.
On December 2, 2021 Northern announced that it had entered into binding purchase agreements to
acquire the producing Lac des Iles graphite mine in Quebec and the Okanjande graphite
deposit/Okorusu processing plant in Namibia from subsidiaries of Imerys SA (the "Transaction").
Closing of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions including final approval of the TSX-V and
completion of $55 million in related financings.
Completion of the Transaction will enable Northern to
become the only North American and the world's third largest non-Chinese graphite producing company.
In addition, Bissett Creek and Okanjande are two large scale development projects that have high quality
flake graphite and are located close to infrastructure in politically stable jurisdictions.
They will enable the
Company to significantly expand future production to meet rapidly growing demand from the EV/battery
markets.
About Minviro
Minviro was formed to support the global community by ensuring that raw materials used for the low-
carbon economy are sourced at minimal environmental cost. Minviro helps mining, mineral processing
and refining companies understand, quantify and reduce their environmental impacts through a life cycle
assessment which drives sustainability. Since Minviro's formation, a number of mining and metal
projects have had the environmental impact of their products quantified and have been provided with
expert insights into how they might minimise these impacts.
For additional information
Please visit the Company's website at
http://www.northerngraphite.com/investors/presentation/
, the
Company's profile on
www.sedar.com,
contact the Company at (613) 241-9959 or visit our
Social
Channels
.
YouTube
This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable
Canadian securities laws. Forward- looking statements and information are frequently characterized
by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "potential",
"possible" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "will",
"could", or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this release include statements regarding,
among others: the Company's intention to complete the Transaction and the related financings and
the timing thereof; the Company's market position post-Transaction and the future demand for
graphite. All such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by
management based on their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and
expected future developments, as well as other factors they believe are appropriate in the
circumstances. However, these statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other
factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected including, but
not limited to, unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable
authorities; the failure of other parties to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in
commodity prices; unexpected failure or inadequacy of infrastructure and the failure of ongoing and
contemplated studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued
studies, development or operations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-
looking information or statements.
Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based on what
management believes are reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that
actual results will be consistent with them. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date
of this news release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject
to applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the
forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the
date of this news release.
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 adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
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https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/116114