What You Need to Know
Today, the Prime Minister announced that construction is starting on Nouveau Monde Graphite’s Matawinie Mine in Saint-Michel-des-Saints, Québec.
Just six months after being referred to the Major Projects Office, shovels are already in the ground at the Matawinie Mine.
Once completed, the Matawinie Mine will be the largest graphite mine in North America and the G7 — supplying up to 106,000 tonnes annually.
The Matawinie Mine will create more than 1,000 new jobs from engineering to the skilled trades, attract nearly $2 billion in investment into our economy, and support lower emissions.
Key Messages
Canada has what the world wants – and we’re moving at speed to get it to market.
Graphite is an indispensable component for electric vehicle batteries, energy storage systems, advanced manufacturing, and defence and aerospace technologies.
With global demand rapidly outpacing supply, the Matawinie Mine will help position Canada as the reliable partner of choice for Asia, Europe, and beyond.
It will create more than a thousand good career opportunities, strengthen our supply chains, and build a stronger, more competitive, more independent Canadian economy for all.
Key Facts
The Government of Canada has entered into a seven-year offtake agreement for 30,000 tonnes annually of graphite concentrate from the Matawinie Mine, helping strengthen secure and reliable critical minerals supply chains for Canada and its partners.
The government will further support the project through a $459 million financing package from Export Development Canada and the Canada Infrastructure Bank, helping provide certainty to investors and accelerate construction while advancing Canada’s strategic interests.
Canada’s new government will provide $4.4 million through Natural Resources Canada’s Energy Innovation Program to deploy an electric-powered Caterpillar 950GC loader at the mine, replacing diesel-powered heavy equipment.
In 2024, the Conseil des Atikamekw de Manawan signed an Impact Benefit Agreement with Nouveau Monde Graphite to enhance collaboration on Atikamekw culture, the environment, training, employment, business opportunities, and financial benefits.
The Matawinie Mine was included in the first round of announcements under the Critical Minerals Production Alliance, a Canada-led initiative launched at the 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit.
Since the launch of the G7 Critical Minerals Production Alliance, Canada has announced 56 investments and partnerships to unlock more than $18 billion in capital investment for critical minerals projects.
