QUEBEC, QUEBEC CITY--(Marketwired - Jul 30, 2015) - Nemaska Lithium Inc. ("Nemaska Lithium" or the "Corporation") (TSX VENTURE:NMX)(NMKEF) is pleased to announce that is has received a positive federal environmental assessment decision for the Whabouchi Project from the Minister of Environment of Canada. The decision is the most significant permit for mining projects in Canada and allows Nemaska Lithium to pursue project financing discussions to start mine construction. The Company is expecting the Provincial (Quebec) Government Certificate of Authorization to be issued by the end of August 2015.
"The positive decision issued by the Canadian Minister of Environment, following comprehensive social and environmental review, reflects our commitment to build an environmentally and socially responsible mine site," commented Simon Thibault, Director, Environmental and Social Responsibility for Nemaska Lithium. "The Crees and Jamesians have backed our project since its inception and we are delighted to see the Federal Government has approved our Project after careful consideration of community input."
In compliance with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA 2012), an environmental assessment was completed for the Whabouchi Mine Project. The environmental assessment process was conducted under the responsibility of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the "Agency"). The Agency accounted for the general public's comments, including the observations made by the Cree Nation of Nemaska, and those of the federal ministries. Nemaska Lithium tabled its Environmental Impact Statement in March 2013 and the Agency held public hearings in November 2013. Nemaska Lithium also provided the Agency with additional information over the course of 2014 to reflect the modifications to the mine site that were included in the Feasibility Study of June 2014. Following a comprehensive assessment of the Whabouchi Mine Project, the Canadian Minister of Environment decided that the project is not likely to cause any significant adverse environmental effects, and set out in her decision statement the conditions relative to the mitigation measures and monitoring program to be respected by Nemaska Lithium.
Throughout the life of the project, Nemaska Lithium has maintained a constant dialogue with stakeholders, including the members of the Cree Nation of Nemaska, to develop a mining project that is socially and environmentally acceptable. It is committed to continue doing so in accordance with the conditions listed in the Minister's decision statement (http://www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/050/document-eng.cfm?document=102064) as well as with the Chinuchi Agreement it signed in November 2014 with the Cree Nation of Nemaska, the Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee) and the Cree Nation Government.
About Nemaska Lithium
Nemaska Lithium intends to become a lithium hydroxide supplier and lithium carbonate supplier to the emerging lithium battery market that is largely driven by electric vehicles, cell phones, tablets and other consumer products. The Corporation is developing in Quebec one of the most important spodumene lithium hard rock deposit in the world, both in volume and grade. The spodumene concentrate produced at Nemaska Lithium's Whabouchi mine will be shipped to the Corporation's lithium compounds processing plant to be built in Southern Quebec. This plant will transform spodumene concentrate into high purity lithium hydroxide and carbonate using the proprietary methods developed by the Corporation, and for which patent applications have been filed.
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The statements herein that are not historical facts are forward‐looking statements. These statements address future events and conditions and so involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ from those currently projected. The Corporation does not assume the obligation to update any forward‐looking statement.