Northern Graphite faces mine restart delays amid Canada-Japan battery program

Northern Graphite is facing both strategic opportunities and operational delays regarding its Lac des Iles mine in Quebec. The company has been selected for a Canada-Japan program designed to develop battery and critical mineral supply chains outside of China. Supported by Natural Resources Canada, the company will provide battery anode material samples to Japan’s Lithium-ion Battery Technology and Evaluation Center (LIBTEC) for independent testing of capacity, charging performance, and cycle life.

However, the company reported that a planned Q3 2026 restart of the Lac des Iles mine is now unlikely. This delay follows a notice of mining lease suspension from the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts (MRNF) due to a dispute over an increased site restoration financial guarantee, which rose by approximately $1.8 million. Northern Graphite intends to contest this decision in Quebec Court. The company cited financial constraints, softer market conditions, and the lease suspension as primary factors affecting the restart timeline.