ASX-listed Metals Australia’s Canadian subsidiary Northern Resources has reported strong prefeasibility study (PFS) results for the Lac Carheil graphite project, in Québec.
The study confirms not only viability of a proposed flake graphite concentrate plant but also the upstream component of the company’s fully integrated graphite project on a standalone basis. The company says its planned flake graphite concentrate plant is strongly positioned to support future North American and global battery supply chains.
The PFS confirms for a capital investment of $346-million the project can produce 101 241 t/y of high purity graphite concentrate over a 24-year mine life.
The study delivers a pre-tax net present value of C$790-million, or $553-million, with a 22% internal rate of return and payback period of 4.2 years.
The Lac Carheil project is underpinned by a maiden ore reserve of 21.51-million tonnes grading 11.14% compacted graphite for about 2.4-million tonnes of contained graphite.
The project is located near Fermont, with access to established regional infrastructure and local communities. The project is expected to create 143 full time jobs from 2030, increasing to 183 full time jobs over the life of the project.
Northern Resources will now advance the project towards final feasibility.
“Our fully integrated graphite project in Québec continues to impress. The results we have reported from our PFS demonstrate that the upstream mine and flake graphite concentrate plant project, located near Fermont, is economically attractive on a standalone basis.
“We see the project as Canada’s next fully integrated high purity graphite project – and we remain steadfast in our endeavour to progress it towards development,” says Metals Australia CEO and Northern Resources president Paul Ferguson.
