Whabouchi spodumene mine will be 2nd largest in world (Quebec) The Quebec government announced Friday the award of a certificate of authorization from the Ministry of Environment to society Nemaska Lithium Quebec, giving the green light to the proposed $ 190 million for the creation of Whabouchi spodumene mine, which will provide 190 jobs during a period of 26 years in Nemaska, in the Nord-du-Qubec. At a press conference, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Pierre Arcand, did not hesitate to talk about a project that would establish a new bridge between the responsible mining development and sustainable development, as spodumene extracted Nemaska will be sent in a factory that will transform it into lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide, a compound used in the manufacture of lithium batteries. "This is not just a mining project: lithium involves the knowledge economy and also allows transportation electrification due to its use in lithium batteries," Mr. Arcand has indicated, emphasizing that the deposit the Whabouchi spodumene mine would be the second largest in the world. Financing and schedule Nemaska Lithium may therefore start looking for funding, which the Government of Quebec could participate. "The government is currently in discussions to be part of the funding, but the vast majority of the funding will come from private investors," stressed the minister. Guy Bourassa, President and CEO of Nemaska Lithium, for his part, said that the construction of the future mine, which should last 18 months and provide employment to 250 people, could begin in the fall of 2016. The mine could start in the first quarter of 2018 and would operate for 20 years as an open pit mine and then for six years as an underground mine. Demand for lithium hydroxide grew by over 10% over the last 18 months and this lithium compound selling prices for its part, reached $ 8,500 per tonne, a trend that is set to continue according some analysts. Local employees The leaders of the mining company also involved the Cree community of Nemaska, located 30 kilometers from the future mine, in their project and give themselves a goal to hire a maximum of local employees. "For us it is more important to have local employees to do fly in fly out. Being located near a community of 1,000 people, of which 250 are of school age, gives us a hand, since blaster training and equipment operator are currently developed in the school board sector "he explains. Mr. Bourassa did however no fixed target for the Aboriginal workforce percentage in the future mine. "We know we will not reach 100%, it would be impossible. However, I have not reached my goal if not 100% of the heavy equipment operators who come Nemaska. It would not make sense to pay $ 1,400 every 21 days for the fly in fly out, "he told the Sun. Grand Chief of the Grand Council of the Crees, Matthew Coon Come, who was known by defending the rights of First Nations in the campaign against Hydroelectric Project James Bay, has also spoken of as a Whabouchi 'major project'. "This is the first time that a mining project is located just next to a Cree community and the territories that we traditionally use to support ourselves. Cree workers will be able to go home to be near their families after their day, "he commented. https://www.lapresse.ca/le-soleil/affaires/actualite-economique/201509/04/01-4897966-quebec-autorise-le-projet-whabouchi-de-nemaska-lithium.php