Part of the Northvolt battery cell factory megaproject, regarding recycling activities, will have to be evaluated by the Bureau d’audiences publique sur l’environnement (BAPE).
The Swedish company confirmed Friday morning information first reported by Radio-Canada, according to which the company’s Revolt program would be subject to an environmental assessment.
Northvolt says it “welcomes this decision”.
With its Revolt program, the battery recycling plant, the company wants to get closer to its goal of manufacturing 50% recycled batteries in 2030.
Northvolt states in a press release that it has “demonstrated in Europe that its projects are capable of meeting some of the highest environmental standards in the world. »
The launch of the mega-factory project south of Montreal has sparked calls for it to be subject to BAPE evaluation. A petition was even submitted to the National Assembly on this subject and received several hundred signatures.
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Part of Northvolt’s land is located in McMasterville
The idea of only submitting part of the project to the BAPE has already raised criticism.
“Unacceptable!” », Thundered Patrick Bonin, head of the Climate-Energy campaign at Greenpeace Canada, on the X network.
“Despite having the power (Benoît Charette, the Minister of the Environment) and the government REFUSES (sic) to submit the MOST important INDUSTRIAL project in the history of Quebec to a complete public environmental assessment. »