E - Environmental Criteria
- Millions of tons of acid generating wastes
The low-grade graphite project would produce over 100 million of tons of tailings and waste rocks, which contain significant quantities of acid generating sulphidic minerals, heavy metals, and other toxic substances. The company proposes a dry, co-disposition stacking method for the mine waste materials, covered with a soil barrier in a slope. While innovative, this exact method has not been field tested, nor yet proven to work on any site in the world—least of all not at this scale and with this type of material in a northern, wet climate. If it fails, the site risks generating acid drainage for centuries to come. The primary proposed contingency measure is the building and operating of a water treatment plant, which has not been fully costed in the feasibility study.
Touristic and ecologically sensitive area
The proposed 2.6 km open pit mine project is located in the heart of an ecologically sensitive and touristic area, next to the world-renowned Mont Tremblant National Park and within the Lac Taureau Regional Parc watershed—the largest and closest recreational water body north of Montreal and the first inhabited park in the province. This area welcomes tens of thousands of visitors each year. It is also home to hundreds of birds, mammals and other animal species, including several vulnerable and threatened species.
S - Social Criteria
- Social division, no social licence
Contrary to the company’s claim, the community remains profoundly divided over the proposed project. Recent company polls are misleading and do not account for the cottaging and recreational community, which represents 50% of the local population and 51% of the property value (assessed at $201.8 million in 2019). This community is largely opposed to the project and represents a significant social, legal, and financial risk to the company.
- Indigenous rights
While the company has signed a pre-development agreement with the Atikamekw Council of Manawan, it has not yet signed an impact and benefit agreement for the mine itself. The Chief & Council recently cancelled the environmental review panel hearings that were supposed to be held in the community. It is not clear how and when these hearings will be reconvened.
G - Gouvernance Criteria
- Gouvernance
Arne H Frandsen - Chairman of Board of Directors is having his address in a Fiscal Paradise 23-25 Le Pollet, St Peter Port GY1 1WQ, Guernsey
Andrew Willis - also member of Board of Directors is having his address in a Fiscal Paradise: 23-25 Le Pollet, St Peter Port GY1 1WQ, Guernsey