The Department of Fisheries is currently reviewing a taxpayer-funded electric auto battery factory in Quebec, owned by Northvolt, amid concerns of potential environmental impacts.
This review includes assessing the risk of wetland destruction and fish habitat harm, as first covered by Blacklock’s Reporter. Despite Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s previous endorsement of the Northvolt plant as “the world’s cleanest,” these concerns bring a new dimension to the project.
The Department indicated in a Dec. 15 note that it was awaiting a formal application from Northvolt under the Fisheries Act, and said the company had not provided a submission date. The project has drawn attention for its potential environmental repercussions, specifically relating to the discharge of factory effluent into areas inhabited by fish, a matter governed by section 36.3 of the Fisheries Act.
“We continue to work with Northvolt and other stakeholders including Indigenous groups to ensure measures to protect the marine environment and Indigenous rights are in place,” said the note, adding that the company also contacted Mohawk First Nations members.
The Northvolt project, which encompasses an area of about 171 hectares (423 acres), includes plans for water intake and discharge systems. The Department has engaged in discussions with Northvolt to ensure compliance with regulations aimed at protecting fish and their habitats, it said. However, the specifics of these environmental concerns, particularly regarding effluent, have not been fully detailed.
In a statement, the Department underscored the importance of preserving Canada’s fish habitats for future generations and noted its ongoing dialogue with Northvolt. This includes regular project management meetings and a request for a formal assessment of the project’s impact on fish and fish habitats.
Mr. Trudeau announced a $1.34 billion federal subsidy for the Northvolt factory on Sept. 28, 2023, with production expected to begin in 2026. The factory, located in Saint-Basile-le-Grand, Quebec, has been touted for its environmentally friendly approach, claiming to produce some of the “greenest batteries in the world.”
Despite these green credentials, the PMO’s announcement did not address the project’s compliance with the Fisheries Act. The facility aims to focus on sustainability and will produce various battery components, including materials from battery recycling.
“Northvolt’s facility will focus on sustainability and will produce a variety of battery components and materials, such as precursor cathode active materials (pCAM), cathode active materials (CAM), lithium-ion battery cells, and lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt-oxide (NMC) from battery recycling, one of only a handful of locations to have this type of capacity outside of Asia,” the PMO said.
The Epoch Times reached out to Northvolt but did not receive a response before press time.
