Nouveau monde Graphite, owner of the Matawinie operation in Quebec, Canada, has selected ABB for a landmark electrification project that will help make it the world’s first all-electric open-pit mine.
The contract, the price tag for which was not disclosed, includes the supply, construction and commissioning of a 120kV substation that will be connected to the provincial hydropower network.
This will enable access to clean energy to support mining activities and concentrator production of carbon-neutral graphite concentrate destined for the lithium-ion battery market. Nouveau Monde is set to equip the Matawinie Mine with a zero-emission mining fleet and associated charging infrastructure, which would make it the world’s first all-electric open-pit mine when it starts operating.
Matawinie, located north of Montreal, is working to establish a 103,000-ton-per-year graphite mining and concentrator complex.
“We are excited to move one step closer to building the mine of the future, powered by clean energy to responsibly extract and produce a critical mineral for global decarbonization,” said Eric Desaulniers, founder, president and CEO. “Our environmental stewardship and innovative mindset have been matched by the team at ABB, from the commencement of our electrification journey, to translate our vision into reality.”
A recognized global leader in mine electrification with its ABB eMine portfolio of solutions, ABB will lead construction of the substation as the primary connection point between the mine site and Hydro-Québec’s hydropower generation facility, enabling full electrification of the Matawinie mine using clean energy. With dedicated project management resources from ABB overseeing engineering, supply, commissioning and start-up of the substation, Nouveau Monde Graphite will rely on robust technical expertise.
“It’s a proud moment for the electrification and automation professionals at ABB to be part of this landmark operation at Matawinie, the type of project we’ve been working towards in recent years,” said Sachin Jari, head of Mining for North America, ABB Process Industries. “From the onset, we’ve engaged with Nouveau Monde Graphite to help make their vision a reality and now have the opportunity to power it forward together.” Source: Nouveau Monde Graphite