Canada Launches $4.6 Billion Critical Minerals Initiative with Nouveau Monde Graphite as Key Partner

The Canadian government has launched a $4.6-billion package of projects under the G7 Critical Minerals Alliance, marking a significant shift from strategic planning to tangible implementation in securing critical mineral supply chains. This initiative combines long-term supply contracts, price-stability mechanisms, strategic stockpiling and co-investment tools to accelerate mining and processing projects that will serve allied nations. Canada's abundant resources position the country to become the trusted, reliable alternative supplier to the Western World, reducing dependence on China's near-total control of critical minerals markets.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson emphasized the strategic importance, stating that these projects demonstrate Canada's seriousness about reducing market concentration and dependencies while safeguarding national security and sovereignty. The alliance represents a coordinated industrial policy linking critical minerals development across Canada, the United States and Europe, treating mineral supply as simultaneously addressing national security, energy strategy and industrial policy objectives.

Graphite occupies a central position in this alliance, given China's overwhelming dominance in supplying processed graphite materials. Allied governments are prioritizing projects that can deliver secure, vertically integrated capacity to ensure locally sourced minerals remain within allied territories for processing, retaining the technological and economic benefits domestically. While many projects remain in planning stages, select developers like Nouveau Monde Graphite are advancing rapidly toward execution.

Nouveau Monde Graphite has emerged as a front-runner in this initiative, securing multiple strategic commercial agreements that demonstrate how government policy translates into industrial execution. The company announced a binding supply and marketing deal with the Government of Canada providing 30,000 tonnes per annum of graphite concentrate for allocation to Canada and allied countries. Additionally, the company updated its joint marketing and offtake agreement with Traxys covering North American and European refractory markets for steel, securing exclusive end-users for 20,000 tonnes per annum of graphite concentrate.

The company also fast-tracked construction and production launch for 13,000 tonnes per annum of active anode material through an updated agreement with Panasonic Energy at their Bécancour Battery Materials Plant. Advanced negotiations with a leading anode manufacturer could secure an additional 30,000 tonnes per annum of graphite concentrate from Nouveau Monde Graphite's Matawinie Mine. These commitments provide visibility over nearly 100% of planned Matawinie Mine output before construction begins, representing unusual de-risking in a sector where most projects secure buyers after financing.

Eric Desaulniers, Founder, President and CEO of NMG, explained that these commercial agreements provide financial partners with visibility on the project's bankability and risk profile, moving the company confidently toward final investment decision and commercial operations. The company's development plan is timed to capitalize on firm orders while supporting energy autonomy, national security, and manufacturing efforts across the Western World. More insights are available in the full interview at https://www.youtube.com/live/mshDxl4SH6A?si=pUkZZXlqCu5JTokE&t=9936.

NMG currently stands at a pre-final investment decision stage with rare clarity for investors, as the market may not yet fully reflect the project's long-term strategic potential marked by commercial alignment, government support and validated demand. With contracts signed, engineering and permitting largely completed, and community partnerships secured, NMG is advancing toward project financing with due diligence nearing completion and term sheet negotiations progressing. The company positions itself as ready to become one of the G7's largest, fully vertically integrated producers of natural graphite, representing a first-of-its-kind public-private delivery in the Western graphite sector that aligns government, industry and market forces.