"Since the mine was first announced eight years ago, many residents have opposed the project over environmental concerns and fears it will threaten the growing eco-tourism economy. Open-air graphite mines produce dust emissions that can pollute the air and water. The opposition only became more pronounced once the United States became involved. At first, the project was sold to us as a green one, for energy transition,"
"Then, in 2024, the Pentagon announced it would invest $8.3m in the project through the Defense Production Act investment programme, which aims to ensure the availability of resources needed for national defence. That came alongside a $20m grant to build a cobalt refinery in Ontario the first large investment since the second world war and $6.4m to build a bismuth and cobalt project in the Northwest Territories. Suddenly, the main big investor is the American army, who need a lot of graphite, said St-Hilaire."
La Petite-Nation in the Outaouais region of Quebec is largely untouched woodland near Montreal and Ottawa. Lomiko Metals plans an open-air graphite mine there that would produce 100,000 tonnes of graphite annually for 15 years. Residents have opposed the project since its announcement eight years ago over environmental risks and potential threats to growing eco-tourism. Open-air graphite mining produces dust emissions that can pollute air and water. In 2024 the Pentagon committed $8.3m through the Defense Production Act, alongside other North American critical-minerals investments, increasing local opposition due to military involvement.
Read at www.theguardian.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]