Northern Graphite Provides Update on Lac des Iles Mine Development Plans
Northern Graphite (OTCQB: NGPHF) has placed the Lac des Iles mine and mill into temporary care and maintenance after a mill bearing failure and to accelerate scheduled maintenance ahead of a planned 2026 pit expansion. A replacement bearing has a lead time of ~4–6 weeks. Pre-stripping for Phase 1 is underway on a continuous basis over an estimated two-month period.
The expansion project has up to $6.2M of interest-free, repayable funding covering 75% of eligible costs from NRCan/CED. The company expects to start production from the expanded pit in Q2 next year, but a minor over‑blast near the 209m depth may cause a 2–3 month production gap while regulators areengaged and an amendment is sought.
Northern Graphite (OTCQB: NGPHF) ha messo in cura e manutenzione temporanea la miniera e la fabbrica di Lac des Iles dopo un guasto a un cuscinetto del mulino e per accelerare la manutenzione programmata in vista di una prevista espansione della miniera nel 2026. Un cuscinetto di ricambio ha un tempo di consegna di circa 4–6 settimane. Le operazioni di prelavorazione per la Fase 1 proseguono in modo continuo su un periodo stimato di due mesi.
Il progetto di espansione prevede fino a $6,2M di finanziamento a tasso di interesse zero, rimborsabile, che copre il 75% dei costi ammissibili da NRCan/CED. L'azienda prevede di iniziare la produzione dalla miniera espansa nel secondo trimestre dell'anno prossimo, ma una lieve sovrastampa vicino alla profondità di 209 m potrebbe causare una falla di produzione di 2–3 mesi, mentre i regolatori sono coinvolti e viene richiesto un emendamento.
Northern Graphite (OTCQB: NGPHF) ha puesto la mina y la planta de Lac des Iles en cuidado y mantenimiento temporal tras una falla en un cojinete del molino y para acelerar el mantenimiento programado antes de una expansión de la mina en 2026. Un cojinete de repuesto tiene un tiempo de entrega de aproximadamente 4–6 semanas. Las tareas preliminares para la Fase 1 se llevan a cabo de forma continua durante un periodo estimado de dos meses.
El proyecto de expansión tiene hasta $6,2M en financiación sin intereses y reembolsable que cubre el 75% de los costos elegibles de NRCan/CED. La empresa espera comenzar la producción desde la mina expandida en el segundo trimestre del próximo año, pero un ligero sobreestallido cerca de la profundidad de 209 m podría provocar un periodo de producción de 2–3 meses mientras se involucran los reguladores y se busca una enmienda.
Northern Graphite (OTCQB: NGPHF)은 Lac des Iles 광산과 공장을 임시 관리 및 점검 상태로 두었으며, 광산의 베어링 고장으로 인해 예정된 2026년 구덩이 확장에 앞서 점검을 가속화하고 있습니다. 교체 베어링의 리드타임은 약 4–6주입니다. Phase 1을 위한 예비 제거 작업은 약 2개월의 기간 동안 지속적으로 진행 중입니다.
확장 프로젝트는 NRCan/CED의 무이자 상환 가능 보조금으로 최대 $6.2M를 제공하며, 이는 적격 비용의 75%를 커버합니다. 회사는 확장된 구덩이에서 다음 해 2분기에 생산을 시작할 것으로 기대하지만, 깊이 209m 근처의 경미한 과블라스트로 regulators가 관여하고 수정이 필요해 2–3개월의 생산 차질이 발생할 수 있습니다.
Northern Graphite (OTCQB: NGPHF) a confié temporairement la mine et l’usine de Lac des Iles à une opération de maintenance après une défaillance d’un palier du broyeur, afin d’accélérer la maintenance planifiée avant une -extension du puits en 2026. Un palier de remplacement a un délai de environ 4–6 semaines. Le déblai préliminaire pour la Phase 1 se poursuit en continu sur une période estimée de deux mois.
Le projet d’extension bénéficie d’un financement sans intérêts et remboursable pouvant atteindre 6,2 M$, couvrant 75% des coûts éligibles de NRCan/CED. L’entreprise prévoit de commencer la production depuis le puits étendu au 2e trimestre de l’année prochaine, mais une légère sur-blaste près de la profondeur de 209 m pourrait entraîner une période de production de 2 à 3 mois pendant que les régulateurs sont sollicités et qu’un amendement est recherché.
Northern Graphite (OTCQB: NGPHF) hat die Mine und das Werk Lac des Iles vorübergehend in Pflege und Wartung genommen, nachdem ein Lager des Mahlwerks ausgefallen war, um die planmäßige Wartung vor einer Erweiterung des Abbaus im Jahr 2026 zu beschleunigen. Ein Ersatzlager hat eine Vorlaufzeit von ca. 4–6 Wochen. Die Vorarbeiten für Phase 1 laufen kontinuierlich über einen geschätzten Zeitraum von zwei Monaten.
Beim Erweiterungsprojekt sind bis zu 6,2 Mio. USD an zinsgünstigen, rückzahlbaren Fördermitteln vorgesehen, die 75% der förderfähigen Kosten von NRCan/CED abdecken. Das Unternehmen rechnet damit, die Produktion aus dem erweiterten Tagebau im 2. Quartal des nächsten Jahres aufzunehmen, aber eine geringe Überblasung nahe der Tiefe von 209 m könnte eine 2–3-monatige Produktionsunterbrechung verursachen, während Regulierungsbehörden einbezogen werden und eine Änderung angestrebt wird.
Northern Graphite (OTCQB: NGPHF) وضع منجم Lac des Iles والمصنع في رعاية وصيانة مؤقتة بعد فشل في تحمل الطحن ولتسريع الصيانة المجدولة قبل تمديد السطح في 2026 المخطط. وقت الانتظار لاستبدال المحمل حوالي 4–6 أسابيع. الإجراء المسبق لإزالة التربة للمرحلة 1 جارٍ بشكل مستمر على مدى فترة مقدَرة شهرين.
يحتوي مشروع التوسيع على ما يصل إلى 6.2 مليون دولار من تمويل بدون فائدة قابل للسداد يغطي 75% من التكاليف المؤهلة من NRCan/CED. تتوقع الشركة بدء الإنتاج من الحفرة الموسعة في الربع الثاني من العام المقبل، لكن قد يسبب انفجار زائد بسيط قرب عمق 209 م فجوة إنتاجية مدتها 2–3 أشهر أثناء إشراك الجهات التنظيمية وطلب تعديل.
- Pre-stripping underway on continuous 24-hour basis
- Expansion funding up to $6.2M (75% of eligible costs)
- Installed capacity of 25,000 tpa vs current output 15,000 tpa
- Target production restart from expanded pit in Q2 next year
- Mill bearing failure with 4–6 week replacement lead time
- Temporary care and maintenance could cause operational downtime
- Possible 2–3 month production gap following over-blast and amendment
- Mine and mill temporarily placed on care and maintenance to prepare for 2026 pit expansion
Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 20, 2025) - Northern Graphite Corporation (TSXV: NGC) (OTCQB: NGPHF) (FSE: 0NG) (XSTU: 0NG) (the "Company" or "Northern") announces that it has put its Lac des Iles mine and mill ("LDI") into temporary care and maintenance in order to address an unexpected equipment issue and to accelerate critical maintenance and development work ahead of the Company's 2026 pit expansion.
The decision to advance the start of care and maintenance was prompted by a bearing failure at the mill, a long-lead-time component with a replacement window of approximately four to six weeks. Northern has ordered a replacement part and, with the mill temporarily offline, the Company has elected to advance other maintenance and repair projects that had originally been scheduled for January, and which will support the transition to mining from the new pit.
"Rather than stopping the plant now and again in January we decided to start the maintenance program immediately in order to avoid having two separate shutdowns," said Northern Chief Executive Hugues Jacquemin.
LDI is located approximately 150 km northwest of Montreal, Quebec and produces approximately 15,000 tonnes of graphite concentrate per year with installed capacity of 25,000 tonnes per year. Pre-stripping activity is currently underway as part of Phase 1 of an expansion program that could potentially add eight years to the mine life. Stripping is being conducted on a continuous 24 hour basis over an estimated two month period. The Regional Economic Growth Through Innovation Program, provided by Natural Resources Canada ("NRCan") and delivered by The Economic Development Agency of Canada for Quebec Regions ("CED"), is financing
Mining Update
Phase 1 permitting requires a Certificate of Authorization from Quebec's Ministère de l'Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs ("MELCCFP") to mine to 203m (above sea level). The application for such authorization is in the final stages and is expected to be submitted by the end of the month. The Company anticipates it will be in a position to initiate production from the expanded pit in the second quarter of next year. Deepening the pit in Phase 2 of the expansion program requires an authorization to mine below the 203m level and this process will be initiated in due course.
The Company is currently authorized to mine to 209m in the current pit, which is approximately 10m above the water table. It has now reached that depth and a relatively small amount of material has inadvertently been mined and blasted slightly below 209m. In an abundance of caution, mining operations have been temporarily halted until the Company confirms there have been no adverse impacts and will request a minor amendment to its existing Certificate of Authorization to mine remaining ore in the current pit to 203m. This could result in a production gap of approximately two- to three months between existing operations and production from the expanded pit.
Mr. Jacquemin stated: "We will be working closely with regulatory authorities to address this situation as we work to extend the life of this strategic Canadian asset and to create a secure, sustainable North American supply chain for one of the minerals most critical to meeting rapidly growing demand from regional and global battery markets."
About Northern Graphite
Northern is a Canadian, TSX Venture Exchange listed company that is the only flake graphite producing company in North America. Northern is focused on becoming a world leader in producing natural graphite and upgrading it into high-value products critical to the green economy, including anode material for lithium-ion batteries/EVs, fuel cells and graphene, as well as advanced industrial technologies. The Company's mine-to-battery strategy is spearheaded by its Battery Materials Group, which has a fully equipped, state-of-the-art laboratory in Frankfurt. Northern's graphite assets include the producing Lac des Iles mine in Quebec, where the Company plans to increase output to meet growing demand from industrial customers and coming demand from North American battery makers. The Company also owns the large-scale, advanced stage Bissett Creek graphite project in Ontario and the fully permitted Okanjande graphite mine in Namibia, which is currently on care and maintenance, and represents an opportunity to substantially increase graphite production at a lower cost and with a shorter time to market than most competing projects. All projects have "battery quality" graphite and are located close to infrastructure in politically stable jurisdictions.
For media inquiries contact
Pav Jordan, VP of Communications
Email: pjordan@northerngraphite.com
Qualified Person
Gregory Bowes, B.Sc. MBA P.Geo, the Chairman of Northern, is a "qualified person" as defined under NI 43-101and has reviewed and approved the content of this news release.
For additional information
Please visit the Company's website at https://www.northerngraphite.com/home/, the Company's profile on www.sedarplus.ca our Social Channels listed below or contact the Company at (613) 271-2124.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "potential", "possible" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "will", "could", or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding, among others, the Company's plans to extend the mine life of its LDI mine and development plans for its other projects. All such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by management based on their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors they believe are appropriate in the circumstances. However, these statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected including, but not limited to, unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of other parties to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; unexpected failure or inadequacy of infrastructure and the failure of ongoing and contemplated studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued studies, development or operations and the inability to raise required financing. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements.
Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based on what management believes are reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with them. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/275305
FAQ
Why did Northern Graphite (NGPHF) put Lac des Iles into care and maintenance on November 20, 2025?
How long is the mill component replacement expected to take for NGPHF's Lac des Iles?
Will Northern Graphite (NGPHF) receive government funding for the Lac des Iles expansion?
What production capacity and current output does Lac des Iles report for NGPHF?
When does Northern expect production from the expanded pit to resume for NGPHF?
Could Northern Graphite (NGPHF) face a production gap and how long might it last?
