PROJECT
Prefeasibility – All Electric Open-Pit Mine
Customer: Nouveau Monde Graphite
About The Project
Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc. (“NMG”) is developing a world-class all electric open-pit operation located in the vicinity of Saint-Michel-des-Saints in the region of Lanaudière, Québec.
The primary mission of NMG is to become a major producer of graphite, anode material for Li-Ion batteries and other value-added graphite products with the lowest environmental footprint of the industry driving sustainable development in the Upper Matawinie region. Their goal is to be the first ever all electric open-pit mine.
The NMG Project is in the vicinity of Saint-Michel-Des-Saints (Québec, Canada), approximately 130 Kilometers from Montreal. The Project is currently characterized by two (2) potential sectors (West and South sectors) for which indicated and presumed values were determined. The current Project covered by the PFS only considers the western area (NI 43-101) for a 27-year operation at an average annual processed volume of 1.2 M Tons for a production of 50,000 Tons of graphite annually.
MEDATECH was tasked with specialized electrical engineering support and recommendations within the Task Force Committee (which included DRA, ABB, and SNC Lavalin). Actions, meetings and report; mainly consisting in a PF component with identification and qualification (preliminary CAPEX/OPEX) of MEDATECH components and qualification (preliminary CAPEX/OPEX) of the transformation of vehicles and equipment meeting adequate electrical power and rechargeable capabilities able to meet NMG expectations.
Challenges
- The all electric mine required a group with expertise in the design and development of electric heavy equipment to ensure the accuracy of costing and development of the NMG feasibility.
- There was a risk that original equipment manufacturers did not have a roadmap to electrification of the equipment required for the project.
Solutions
- Preliminary recommendation on the optimization of Ore Movement/Material handling equipment with regards to the electrification of the diesel mobile equipment fleet.
- Identified potential OEM partners to help satisfy the requirement of the NMG “all electric mine concept”.
- Based on “diesel” pre-feasibility outlined preliminary CAPEX/OPEX requirements to convert diesel fleet to “All-Electric”.