IAAC begins impact assessment for proposed Shaakichiuwaanaan project

The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) is conducting an impact assessment for the proposed Shaakichiuwaanaan mining project, a new open-pit and underground lithium mine located east of Radisson, Quebec.

Patriot Battery Metals – the private proponent – has proposed the construction, operation, decommissioning and closure of a new hybrid open-pit and underground lithium mine. As proposed, the Shaakichiuwaanaan mining project would include an ore processing plant, a water treatment plant a workers' camp, and storage areas for waste rock, tailings and ore. The mine would produce 49,500 tonnes of ore per day over a mine-life of about 24 years.

As part of the planning phase in the impact assessment process, IAAC has invited Indigenous peoples and the general public to review and provide feedback on the draft tailored impact statement guidelines and the draft public participation plan .

The draft guidelines outline the specific factors to be considered in the assessment of the project and provide direction to the proponent, Patriot Battery Metals, on the studies and information required in its impact statement. The draft plan explains how the public will be engaged throughout the review process and provides details on how and when public participation opportunities will take place for each phase of the impact assessment.

On February 6, 2025, the IAAC and the Cree Nation Government signed an agreement to ensure the involvement of the Crees in the impact assessment of the Shaakichiuwaanaan mining project.

IAAC conducts impact assessment for proposed Shaakichiuwaanaan project

The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) is assessing the proposed Shaakichiuwaanaan mining project, a new open-pit and underground lithium mine located east of Radisson, Quebec.

Patriot Battery Metals proposes to construct, operate, decommission, and close a hybrid open-pit and underground lithium mine. The Shaakichiuwaanaan mining project includes an ore processing plant, a water treatment plant, a workers' camp, and storage areas for waste rock, tailings, and ore. The mine aims to produce 49,500 tonnes of ore per day over a mine life of about 24 years.

IAAC invites Indigenous peoples and the general public to review and provide feedback on the draft tailored impact statement guidelines and the draft public participation plan as part of the planning phase of the impact assessment process.

The draft guidelines outline the specific factors for assessing the project and direct Patriot Battery Metals on the studies and information required in its impact statement. The draft plan explains how IAAC will engage the public throughout the review process and outlines details on public participation opportunities during each phase of the assessment.

On May 28, 2025, IAAC collaborated with the Cree Nation Government to determine that the Shaakichiuwaanaan Mining Project requires an impact assessment.

IAAC developed the draft Public Participation Plan to provide opportunities for public participation during the assessment process. The plan allows flexibility and enables the committee to adjust approaches as needed during the assessment.

IAAC encourages participants to submit comments online by visiting the project home page on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry (reference number 89271). IAAC has also made the draft guidelines and the draft plan available on the Registry. Those wishing to provide input in a different format can contact IAAC by writing to Shaakichiuwaanaan@iaac-aeic.gc.ca.

IAAC requests interested persons to submit comments online by 11:59 p.m. on July 19, 2025. IAAC will publish all comments received online as part of the project file.

The agreement delegates all aspects of the impact assessment to a joint assessment committee (the Committee), composed of members of IAAC and the Cree Nation Government. Final decision-making, however, remains the responsibility of the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change.

On May 28, 2025, IAAC – in collaboration with the Cree Nation Government – determined that an impact assessment was required for the Shaakichiuwaanaan Mining Project.

The draft Public Participation Plan was developed to set out opportunities for public participation during the impact assessment process. It is also intended to be flexible and does not preclude the committee from making changes to the approaches described in the plan in order to accommodate changes that may occur during the assessment.

Comments should be submitted online by visiting the project home page on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry (reference number 89271). The draft guidelines and the draft plan are also available on the Registry. Participants who wish to provide their input in a different format can contact IAAC by writing to Shaakichiuwaanaan@iaac-aeic.gc.ca.

Interested persons were requested to submit comments online by 11:59 p.m. on July 19, 2025. All comments received will be published online as part of the project file.