QUEBEC, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Feb. 17, 2015) - Nemaska Lithium Inc. («Nemaska» or the «Corporation») (News - Market indicators)(OTCQX:NMKEF) announced today that the Quebec Review Committee (Review Committee or COMEX) will hold its public hearings on Nemaska Lithium's Whabouchi Mine Project on Tuesday, March 30, 2015 in the Cree Community of Nemaska and on Wednesday, April 1, 2015 in Chibougamau, Quebec. At the hearings, residents will have an opportunity to voice their views on the project's impact to the local environment. The COMEX consultation is the final step before making the recommendation to the Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and The Fight Against Climate Change to issue the general certificate of authorization required to build and operate the Whabouchi Mine.
Nemaska Lithium has collaborated with the Cree on the design and development of the Whabouchi lithium mine since the project began. This consultation culminated on November 7, 2014 with the signing of the Social Economic Partnership Agreement (the "Chinuchi Agreement") concerning the development and operation of the Whabouchi Lithium Project in Eeyou Istchee/James Bay. Signatories to the agreement were Grand Chief Dr. Matthew Coon Come of the Grand Council of Crees, Chief Matthew Wapachee of the Cree Nation of Nemaska and Guy Bourassa, President and CEO of Nemaska Lithium. In addition, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) held public consultations in the Cree Community of Nemaska on the project in November 2013. No outstanding items remain in the Federal general permitting process. The CEAA is expecting to issue for public consultation its environmental assessment report in the spring of 2015.
"We have had a very positive experience in working with our Cree partners to date and I look forward to the completion of the COMEX hearings and moving forward with the project permitting," commented Guy Bourassa, President and CEO. "This mine will mean the creation of about 125 jobs in the area. We have already completed a training course for heavy equipment operators with the local Cree and I expect these courses to continue as we get closer to production. Maximum employment of the Cree at the mine is our stated goal for this project."
Nemaska Lithium also announced yesterday that they are the recipient of a $12.87 M technology commercialization grant for its Phase 1 Lithium hydroxide plant from the federally-funded Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC).
About Nemaska
Nemaska intends to become a lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate producer based in Quebec and has filed patent applications for its proprietary methods to produce these compounds. In tandem, the Corporation is developing one of the richest spodumene lithium hard rock deposit in the world, both in volume and grade. Spodumene concentrate produced at Nemaska's Whabouchi mine and from other global sources will be shipped to the Corporation's lithium compounds processing plant to be built in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec. This plant will transform spodumene concentrate into high purity lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate mainly for the growing lithium battery market.
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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.
