Canadian materials company Nouveau Monde Graphite (NMG) and Caterpillar have signed agreements to supply NMG’s Matawinie Mine with an integrated solution that covers a zero-emission fleet, supporting infrastructure and services. 

The agreements encompass machines such as hydraulic excavators, mining trucks, wheel loaders, dozers and motor graders, as well as charging and energy storage infrastructure and equipment maintenance services.

As part of the agreements, the two companies have mapped the development and testing of equipment and infrastructure at NMG’s Matawinie Mine in Saint-Michel-des-Saints, Québec. Equipment will be progressively replaced with Cat zero-emission machines as they become available.

Technical teams will work in close collaboration to test Caterpillar’s Early Learner models and pilot units and support technology development. The companies aim to make a complete all-electric transition by the fifth year of Matawinie’s commercial operations. NMG will use the machines in its mining operations and gather on-site data in a variety of weather, terrain and operational conditions.

The two companies have also signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to advance commercial discussions targeting NMG’s active anode material. A full circular value chain could be established, in which NMG would supply carbon-neutral graphite materials to Caterpillar for the development of its battery supply chain that would serve to electrify heavy vehicles, including NMG’s Matawinie fleet.

“Not only will we benefit from Caterpillar’s expertise, products and latest technological developments, but our team will also be sharing insight, testing equipment for further optimization and providing battery materials to support electrification beyond our mine,” said Eric Desaulniers, founder and CEO of NMG.

Source: NMG