The concern among citizens and elected officials to see a regional park in the Laurentians disfigured by a mine is going up a notch: the Mousseau Ouest graphite deposit has finally been purchased by the mining operator Northern Graphite.
Posted at 5:00 a.m.
“I am very worried,” said Marie-Claude Provost, director of the Reservoir-Kiamika Regional Park, located near Mont-Laurier.
In August, The Press reported that the Ontario company Northern Graphite was considering the acquisition of the Mousseau Ouest project: a potential graphite mine with an area of 489 hectares, located partly on the territory of the regional park, which is home to a biodiversity reserve and about ten lakes.
It is now done: Northern Graphite announced on Wednesday that it had concluded a sale with the former owner of the mining claims, the company Imerys Group, despite the opposition of citizens and elected officials.
Thus, the Ontario company will have the exclusive right to look for mineral substances on the territory for a period of two years.
Exploration drilling has already revealed potential for graphite, an essential mineral for the manufacture of electric car batteries.
“Mousseau Ouest has the potential to become a significant project and we believe the deposit can play an important role as the company consolidates its position as the only significant graphite producer in North America,” said Northern Graphite CEO, Hugues Jacquemin.
In its press release, Northern Graphite acknowledges that “there are local concerns”, but adds that it will do “everything [son] possible to minimize the effects and maximize the benefits for all stakeholders”.
“Projects such as Mousseau Ouest and local communities must find ways to coexist,” pleads the company, which highlights the “essential” nature of graphite in the energy transition.
This does not reassure Marie-Claude Provost, on the contrary. “Even knowing [de nos préoccupations]they will move forward, ”she protests.
The president of the Kiamika Reservoir Owners Association, Raymond Carrier, also doubts that cohabitation is possible. “Of course there will be nuisances: noise, dust…”, he lists.
More than 2,800 citizens have already signed a petition against mining in the Reservoir-Kiamika Regional Park.
“It doesn’t make sense to make a mine in a resort area and a park. There is political action to be taken,” thunders Mr. Carrier.
No social acceptability
To move forward and build a mine, Northern Graphite would have to comply with all the requirements imposed by Quebec, recalled in August Philippe Gervais, senior director of the public relations firm Navigator, which represents the Ontario company.
“We have to do environmental studies, consultations. We will do whatever it takes, ”assured Mr. Gervais.
In response to the report by The Pressthe Premier of Quebec, François Legault, had promised that he would not give the green light to any mining project “without social acceptability”.
Marie-Claude Provost calls on the government to come out clearly against the Mousseau Ouest project.