The Atikamekw First Nation of Manawan and NMG Sign an Impact Benefit Agreement for the Matawinie Mining Project » Agreement setting out the significant participation of the Manawan Atikamekw to responsibly develop graphite in the Nitaskinan in a way that respects the environment and
The Atikamekw First Nation of Manawan and NMG Sign an Impact Benefit
Agreement for the Matawinie Mining Project
» Agreement setting out the significant participation of the Manawan Atikamekw to
responsibly develop graphite in the Nitaskinan in a way that respects the environment and
provides direct benefits to the community.
» Enhanced collaboration on aspects related to Atikamekw culture, the environment,
training, employment, business opportunities, and financial benefits.
» Agreement signed following a community consultation process.
» Commitment to a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship of trust based on respect,
inclusion, sustainability and responsibility.
MONTRÉAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--December 12, 2024--The Conseil des Atikamekw de
Manawan, representing the Atikamekw Nehirowisiw First Nation of Manawan (the “Manawan
Atikamekw”), and Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc. (“NMG” or the “Company”) (NYSE:NMG,
TSXV:NOU) are proud to announce that they have signed an impact benefit agreement covering
the Matawinie mining project, which is located on the Nitaskinan. With this agreement, the
Manawan Atikamekw give their consent to the Matawinie mining project, which aims to
responsibly valorize graphite by NMG, in a way that respects the environment and provides
direct benefits to the First Nation.
Sipi Flamand, Chief of the Manawan Atikamekw, stated: "This agreement is aligned with our
desire to generate value from our Nitaskinan while creating concrete opportunities for our
community and our members. It reflects an appropriate balance between a recognition of our
values and our culture, respect for our environment, and improved quality of life for the
Manawan population. Together with our partner Nouveau Monde Graphite, we are shaping the
direction of a long-term collaboration that is in keeping with our values.”
Eric Desaulniers, Founder, President and CEO of NMG, stated: “Mikwetc e tapweritamekw
anihe ka ki masinahotisowiekw, ni nakasinan tapickotc kitci otamirotaikw otci ‘Matawinie
Mine,’ kitci mackowarik opimatisiwiniwaw ke pe ocki nitawikitcik. I would like to thank the
Manawan community and their leaders for their trust, which is reflected in this agreement. This
is a significant milestone, and Team Nouveau Monde is eager to develop the Matawinie Mine
together with the community to create a sustainable future for generations to come. This
partnership also promises positive benefits for both Manawan and our project in terms of
environmental management, labor, and business partnerships.”
Glenn Dubé, councillor at the Atikamekw Council of Manawan, said: "It is a pleasure to
announce the signing of this agreement. Having steered this file during my two mandates, I am
proud of the progress made and the sincere collaboration that marked this process. I look
forward to what lies ahead with renewed optimism, convinced that we will continue to move
forward together along this path of mutual respect and trust.”
On the basis of the two agreements already signed between the Manawan Atikamekw and NMG,
the impact benefit agreement went through an exhaustive negotiation and consultation process to
ensure that the interests and concerns of the First Nation were taken into account. The agreement
includes provisions for the Manawan Atikamekw to take part in the project’s environmental
management and monitoring, the implementation of adapted and preferential training and
employability measures, the promotion of business opportunities during the mine’s construction
and operations, as well as the recognition of Atikamekw culture and the inclusion of cultural
safety measures. The agreement also sets out the sharing of financial benefits from NMG’s
graphite development operations.
The Manawan Atikamekw and NMG will soon launch a joint working committee to ensure the
agreement is implemented in an effective and cooperative manner.
About the Manawan Atikamekw
The Manawan Atikamekw have lived on, occupied and protected their Nitaskinan since time
immemorial. They have ancestral rights, including ancestral title, to the Manawan Nitaskinan
and have always managed and protected their Nitaskinan according to their customs, practices
and traditions. The community of Manawan is located approximately 72 km north of Saint-
Michel-des-Saints in Matawinie, in Québec’s Lanaudière region. The Manawan Atikamekw
community is represented by the Conseil des Atikamekw de Manawan (CDAM). The CDAM
defends the rights of the Manawan Atikamekw and coordinates with the Manawan territory
chiefs to advance the territorial interests of Atikamekw families as per traditional Atikamekw
customs.
About Nouveau Monde Graphite
Nouveau Monde Graphite is an integrated company developing responsible mining and
advanced manufacturing operations to supply the global economy with carbon-neutral active
anode material to power EV and renewable energy storage systems. The Company is developing
a fully integrated ore-to-battery-material source of graphite-based active anode material in
Québec, Canada. With enviable ESG standards and structuring partnerships with anchor
customers, NMG is set to become a strategic supplier to the world’s leading lithium-ion battery
and EV manufacturers, providing high-performing and reliable advanced materials while
promoting sustainability and supply chain traceability. www.NMG.com
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Cautionary Note
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute “forward-looking information” and
“forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities legislation
(collectively, “forward-looking statements”), including, but not limited to, statements relating to
future events or future financial or operating performance of the Company and reflect
management’s expectations and assumptions regarding the Company’s growth, results,
performance, and business prospects and opportunities. Such statements reflect management’s
current beliefs and are based on information currently available to it. Such forward-looking
statements include but are not limited to statements regarding the repercussions, benefits and
spin-offs of the partnership between the Manawan Atikamekw and NMG, including those related
to the environmental management plan, labour and business partnerships, the effective
implementation of a joint working committee to oversee the application of the agreement, the
projections about future operations, the future engagement and potential economic benefits for
the region, and the capacity of NMG to establish a fully integrated supply chain for active anode
material from graphite in Québec, to become a strategic supplier for the world’s main
manufacturers of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, and to provide high-performance and
reliable advanced materials while ensuring the sustainability and traceability of the supply
chain, as well as the intended results of the initiatives described in this press release and those
statements which are discussed under the “About the Manawan Atikamekw” and “About
Nouveau Monde Graphite” paragraphs and elsewhere in the press release which describe the
Company’s outlook and objectives and the agreement with the Manawan Atikamekw.
Forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions that have been made by the
Company as at the date of such statements and are subject to known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, level of activity, performance, or
achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these
forward-looking statements, including but not limited to general economic and commercial
conditions, the actual results of current development, engineering and planning activities, access
to capital and future prices of graphite, the inherent risks of mining development activities, the
speculative nature of mining development, changes in mineral production output, the uncertainty
of processing the Company’s technology on a commercial basis, development and production
timeframes, competition and market-related risks, price pressure, other risks related to the
mining industry, and engineering analyses and other requirements to fully evaluate their impact,
the fact that some initiatives described in this press release are still in the preliminary phase and
may not materialize, business continuity and crisis management, political instability, and
international conflicts. A further description of risks and uncertainties can be found in NMG’s
Annual Information Form dated March 27, 2024, including in the section thereof captioned
“Risk Factors,” which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on EDGAR at
www.sec.gov. Unpredictable or unknown factors not discussed in this Cautionary Note could
also have material adverse effects on forward-looking statements.
There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual
results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The
Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
statements in this press release in the case of new information, future events, or for any other
reasons, except to the extent required by applicable law.
The market and industry data contained in this press release is based upon information from
third parties and from independent industry reports, publications, web sites, and other publicly
available sources of information as well as data on the industry and other data prepared by or
for the Company based on its knowledge of the markets in which it operates, including but not
limited to information obtained from suppliers, partners, clients and other industry stakeholders.
The Company believes that the data on markets and economic data cited in this press release to
be accurate as of the date of publication of this press release and, in relation to the data
prepared by or for the Company, that these estimates and assumptions are currently appropriate
and reasonable but that the accuracy and completeness of such data are not guaranteed. The
accuracy and completeness of the market and economic data presented in this press release are
not guaranteed and the Company does not make any representation as to the accuracy of such
data and does not undertake to update or revise this data. Actual outcomes may vary materially
from those forecasted in such reports or publications, and the prospect for material variation
can be expected to increase as the length of the forecast period increases. Although the Company
believes that this data is reliable as of the date of publication of this press release, the Company
has not independently verified any of the data from third-party sources referred to in this press
release, has not analyzed or verified the underlying studies or surveys relied upon or referred to
by such sources, and has not ascertained the underlying market, economic environment or other
assumptions relied upon by such sources. Market and economic data are subject to variations
and cannot be verified due to limits on the availability and reliability of data inputs, the
voluntary nature of the data-gathering process and other limitations and uncertainties inherent
in any statistical survey.
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.
Further information about the Company is available through the regular filing of press releases,
financial statements and our most recent Annual Information Form in the SEDAR+ database
(www.sedarplus.ca) and EDGAR (www.sec.gov.). These documents and other information about
NMG are also available from our website at www.nmg.com.
Contacts
MEDIA
For Nouveau Monde Graphite
Julie Paquet
VP Communications & ESG Strategy
+1-450-757-8905, ext. 140
For the Conseil des Atikamekw de Manawan
Eric Duguay
Media Relations Manager
514-377-1980
INVESTORS
Marc Jasmin
Director, Investor Relations
+1-450-757-8905, ext. 993