Canada Prioritizes Critical Minerals with Matawinie Mine Referral
Montreal, Quebec (November 13, 2025) – The Government of Canada today signaled a meaningful step towards bolstering domestic critical mineral production and strengthening national economic resilience by referring Nouveau Monde GraphiteS Matawinie Mine project to the Major Projects Office (MPO). The proclamation,made by the honourable Dominic LeBlanc,President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, Internal Trade and One Canadian Economy, at Nouveau Monde Graphite‘s Montreal headquarters, underscores Canada’s commitment to diversifying its economy and securing vital supply chains.
The Matawinie mine, located near Saint-Michel-des-Saints, Québec, is an open-pit graphite mine poised to play a key role in the evolving global battery supply chain. The project aims to address current gaps in Canada’s graphite sector, where domestic mining and refining capabilities are limited. It will be integrated with Nouveau Monde Graphite’s planned Bécancour Battery material plant, utilizing Québec’s clean hydroelectric power to produce spherical graphite – a crucial component in electric vehicle (EV) batteries and energy storage systems.
This initiative is central to Canada’s strategy to become a leading producer of critical minerals, including graphite, tungsten, copper, lithium, nickel, and cobalt. By developing domestic resources, Canada aims to reduce reliance on potentially unstable or carbon-intensive foreign sources and provide secure supplies for both domestic industries and international allies. The Matawinie Mine is a strategic component of the Critical Minerals Production Alliance,a Canada-led initiative within the G7.
The project is projected to generate over 1,000 new jobs and attract approximately $1.8 billion in investment. Construction is slated to begin in the first quarter of 2026,with the mine expected to be operational by mid-2028.
This project forms part of a broader series of “nation-building” infrastructure investments announced today by the Prime Minister, designed to enhance Canada’s competitiveness and long-term prosperity. The government emphasizes that each individual project holds transformative potential, and collectively, they represent a significant step towards a more resilient and prosperous future for Canada.
