Located in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory in Nord-du-Québec, the Whabouchi mine is one of the largest high-purity lithium deposits in North America and Europe
Whabouchi’s trial mining and demonstration concentrator has proven the ability to produce a premium spodumene concentrate suitable for the Bécancour Conversion Facility
The mine is partially built and will continue to be constructed at the right time to bring online with the conversion facility
The orebody is one of the most mining friendly deposits in the world due to its large lithium bearing pegmatite dykes and little variability across the deposit
The Cree community of Nemaska is approximately 30 km west of the mine site and supports the project
The mine has access along an all-weather road and uses hydroelectric power to power the entire site. The site is also easily accessed by the Nemiscau airport, 18km West of Whabouchi
Evaluations and Authorizations
The Whabouchi mining site has obtained the main authorizations required to start mine:
Authorization granted under the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement (JBNQA) in September 2015
Federal permit granted in July 2015 in accordance with the Canadian Environmental Impact Assessment Act (now the Impact Assessment Act)
Certificate of authorization from the Government of Québec granted in September 2015 in accordance with the Environment Quality Act
200
At the peak of production, the mine will employ more than 200 people.
In-provincial transport
Whabouchi
One of the largest hard rock lithium deposits in the world which allows easy extraction and processing to provide a consistent concentrated spodumene to the conversion facility.
Spodumene is trucked to our transport intermodal point
The concentrated spodumene is transported 405km by truck on an all weather road using b-double trucks to the established railyard in Matagami.
Matagami
The railyard and loadout is an active facility which is used by numerous companies including the surrounding mines and Hydro Québec. The facility provides significant storage capacity increasing transport flexibility.
Spodumene railed to Bécancour
The spodumene will travel 900km to Bécancour where it will be stored and will feed the Bécancour conversion plant.
Bécancour
The spodumene will be processed in a proven low-risk process and delivered to global markets via the Port of Montréal and the extensive North American network.
Whabouchi
Spodumene is trucked to our transport intermodal point
Matagami
Spodumene railed to Bécancour
Bécancour