Production / Operations
Focus Graphite starts final air, dust study for Knife

FMS · Price
Executive Summary
- Focus Graphite Inc. has commissioned WSP Canada Inc. to conduct an updated air dispersion modelling and dust management study for its Lac Knife project in Quebec.
- This study is a critical component of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) required to advance the project toward mine-permitting readiness.
- The updated modelling replaces a 2014 study to reflect the re-engineered dry-stack tailings storage facility (TSF) design, which eliminates the former wet-pond configuration to prevent acid mine drainage.
Key Details
- Contractor: WSP Canada Inc. (Montreal-based global engineering and environmental consultancy) is leading the study under the supervision of IOS Geosciences Inc.
- Scope of Study: The study evaluates potential airborne dispersion of dust and gases associated with mining operations, specifically:
- Wind-driven erosion from the Tailings Storage Facility (TSF).
- Emissions generated by blasting activities.
- Traffic-related dust along the seven-kilometre access road linking Lac Knife to Highway 389.
- Technical Context: The updated modelling is necessary due to the re-engineered dry-stack tailings design developed in the 2021 feasibility study update. This new design uses dolomitic marble to amend and encapsulate tailings, preventing acid mine drainage (AMD) and metal leaching, which materially changes the dispersion profile from the original 2014 wet-pond configuration.
- Regulatory Driver: The program addresses follow-up questions from Quebec's Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment, and the Fight Against Climate Change (MDDELCC) regarding the 2014 ESIA submission.
- Timeline: Results from the study are expected by February 2026, aligning with the planned submission of the final revised ESIA.
- Qualified Person: The technical content was reviewed and approved by Rejean Girard, PGeo, president of IOS Geosciences.
Notable Quotes
- "The completion of the air dispersion modelling and dust management plan marks one of the last major technical steps in our environmental review process... We are now systematically finalizing outstanding ESIA components to move Lac Knife toward the permitting stage." — Dean Hanisch, Chief Executive Officer
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Jul 28, 2026 · 05:01