Focus Graphite tasks firm to fully engineer vital access road corridor for Lac Knife
Focus Graphite has tasked Construction & Expertise PG to undertake geotechnical investigations and detailed engineering on a proposed all-season access road to its flagship Lac Kife graphite project.
The appointment marks an important step toward construction readiness and forms part of a broader infrastructure initiative supported by up to C$1.9-million in combined non-dilutive federal and provincial funding.
This includes newly approved non-repayable financial assistance of up to C$554 050 from the Societe du Plan Nord, which represents 50% of eligible access road planning and development costs under its Northern Infrastructure Fund in Support of the Mining Sector.
Focus Graphite also has C$1.3-million of support committed by Natural Resources Canada through its First and Last Mile Fund.
The provincial contribution is dedicated exclusively to the access road, while the federal funding supports pre-construction planning for both the road and the electrical infrastructure required to connect Lac Knife to Hydro-Quebec’s power network.
Together, these complementary investments are helping tp advance the transportation and energy infrastructure necessary for Lac Knife’s development while allowing Focus Graphite to preserve capital for its broader project development and advanced materials strategy.
ROAD TO SUCCESS
The proposed all-weather gravel access road will connect the Lac Knife project site to Highway 389, providing reliable year-round access to support future mine construction, personnel transportation, equipment mobilisation, and the eventual transportation of graphite concentrate.
Construction & Expertise PG’s mandate encompasses geotechnical and geophysical investigations, subsurface characterisation, evaluation of construction materials and engineering activities required to advance a construction-ready access road design. Key deliverables will include preliminary and final engineering drawings, technical specifications, a bill of quantities, detailed cost estimates, a construction schedule and tender documents to support future construction planning and procurement.
The work programme include about 11 km of geophysical investigations using seismic refraction and multichannel analysis of surface waves, including associated data processing, interpretation and technical reporting; and about 60 geotechnical test pits along the proposed road corridor to characterise subsurface conditions, assess soil and foundation properties, and inform road design requirements.
Construction & Expertise PG will also do reconnaissance and sampling of potential borrow material sources, supported by laboratory testing of foundation soils and construction materials to evaluate their suitability for road construction. The contractor will also do geotechnical drilling where warranted by field investigation results and high-resolution drone-based topographic surveys of the proposed road corridor and any revised alignments to support final engineering design and future construction planning.
The field investigation programme has already advanced substantially, having generated critical technical data to refine engineering designs, optimise construction requirements and support the next phase of project development.
“Infrastructure is what transforms a mineral resource into a strategic asset. With Construction & Expertise PG advancing the technical work required for our access road, we are translating project planning into tangible steps towards construction readiness. The support of the Governments of Québec and Canada allows us to advance this essential infrastructure while maintaining a disciplined approach to capital allocation and project development,” says Focus Graphite CEO Dean Hanisch.
The coordinated advancement of road access and grid connection planning is intended to strengthen Lac Knife’s development readiness, reduce infrastructure-related uncertainty and establish the technical foundation for future construction.
“Support from two levels of government for complementary infrastructure initiatives underscores the strategic importance of advancing Lac Knife.
“We are systematically removing barriers to development, reducing risk and strengthening Lac Knife’s investment case, while leveraging non-dilutive funding to minimise shareholder dilution,” concludes Focus Graphite corporate development VP Jason Latkowcer.