Quebec-based Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc. advanced its Matawinie graphite mine project Tuesday by locking in key contractors for Phase-2 construction. The agreements, which represent over half the $725 million capital expenditure outlined in the company’s latest technical report, include provisions for immediate execution once NMG reaches a positive final investment decision.

Pomerleau Inc. steps in as construction manager, handling the industrial platform, concentrator building, environmental infrastructure and water treatment plant at the Saint-Michel-des-Saints site. The Montreal firm will supervise contractors, manage logistics, enforce health, safety and quality protocols, and track costs as part of NMG’s integrated project team.

Manawan-Fournier, a joint venture between the Manawan Atikamekw Band Council and L. Fournier & Fils, secured the largest initial package for civil works. That contract covers site development, networks for stormwater, sanitary, firefighting and water systems, plus concrete pours for basins, platforms, buildings, domes and roads. Temporary structures and maintenance fall under their scope too. Work starts post-FID.

Beauce Atlas, a Quebec specialist in structural steel for heavy industry, takes on fabrication and installation of steel components. Their responsibilities include sourcing materials, building structures for buildings and crane rails, and handling all related logistics and on-site assembly.

NMG also nears a deal with Metso Corp. for core processing gear: crushing stations, apron feeders, mills, flotation cells and filter presses. Engineering on that equipment stands at 90% complete, according to company statements.

Other pacts cover mechanical equipment, turnkey facility solutions, an electrical substation, powerline construction and specialized consulting. Together, these moves secure capacity, services, equipment and materials ahead of full construction.

“By locking in top-tier partners ahead of FID, we are further de-risking the final financing steps and upcoming project execution,” NMG founder, president and CEO Eric Desaulniers said. “Efforts invested in rigorous construction planning and early contractor involvement are yielding tangible benefits—securing the capacity to mobilize immediately upon a positive FID and to deliver within the pricing envelope set by our latest technical report.”

The Matawinie project targets annual production of 103,000 tonnes of graphite concentrate over 25 years. Phase-2 builds on a completed Phase-1 pilot program and aims to position NMG as a major North American supplier amid surging demand for battery materials. Officials expect FID by late 2024, pending financing and permits.

Manawan-Fournier’s Atikamekw involvement highlights NMG’s emphasis on Indigenous partnerships. The joint venture brings local knowledge to earthworks and infrastructure in the Laurentians region, about 150 kilometers north of Montreal.

Pomerleau brings experience from mining and energy projects across Canada. Beauce Atlas has delivered steelwork for smelters and processing plants in the province. Metso, a Finnish equipment giant, supplies similar setups worldwide.

These early awards help NMG control costs in a volatile market for labor and materials. The company reports the contracts align with feasibility study estimates, preserving project economics even as steel and energy prices fluctuate.