Name of the Project
North American Lithium (NAL) expansion project.

Location
Abitibi-Témiscamingue region of Québec, Canada.

Project Owner/s
North American lithium producer Elevra Lithium.

Project Description
NAL, which restarted production in March 2023, comprises an openpit mine and spodumene concentrator. Its mill is permitted to process 4 500 t/d of ore.

A September 2026 prefeasibility study (PFS) confirmed a three-stage brownfield expansion. The expansion is expected to increase average yearly spodumene concentrate production to 348 000 t over the 20-year mine life, with average production after the expansion ramps up reaching 373 000 t/y of 5.4% lithium oxide concentrate.

Under the revised plan, Elevra expects an initial 15% to 20% increase in yearly spodumene concentrate production – above current levels – from mid-2027, within the existing milling permit limit of 4 500 t/d. This phase is expected to deliver an incremental reduction in unit operating costs.

Stage 2 will expand milling, flotation and filtration capacity to 6 500 t/d, initially supported by a temporary mobile crushing circuit. 

Stage 3 will replace the temporary and existing crushing circuits with a permanent circuit and add ore-sorting capacity to support the 373 000 t/y post-expansion production profile. 

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The PFS estimates a total project after tax net present value (NPV), at an 8% discount rate, of C$3.22-billion. On an expansion-only basis, the after-tax NPV is C$943-million, the internal rate of return is 49.9% and the payback period is 34 months.

Capital Expenditure
C$366-million.

Planned Start/End Date
Construction started in June 2026. Stage 1 is scheduled for completion in mid-2027, Stage 2 production is expected to start in mid-2028 and Stage 3 is scheduled for completion in mid-2029.

Latest Developments
In September 2026, Elevra reported the results of the NAL expansion PFS, which confirmed the three-stage development plan, C$366-million capital estimate and fully funded status of the expansion.

In August 2026, Elevra replaced the nonbinding memorandum of understanding with a binding, long-term spodumene concentrate supply agreement with Mangrove Lithium, subject to agreed conditions precedent.

Elevra broke ground on the fully funded expansion in June 2026 and started to order equipment for Stage 1.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Mangrove Lithium (binding spodumene concentrate supply agreement with Elevra). 

Contact Details for Project Information
Elevra Lithium, tel +61 7 3369 7058 or email info@elevra.com.