Northvolt, the Swedish EV battery manufacturer building a $7-billion plant outside of Montreal will need about a dozen environmental authorizations from governments to complete construction.
On Wednesday, the company provided on update on what has been accomplished so far and what still needs to be done. The company is still awaiting ministerial authorization to move forward.
Northvolt will also have to submit documentation later this year for a portion of its project that will be subject to an environmental assessment by the Bureau d’audience publique sur l’environnement (BAPE).
Wetlands and trees affected by construction
Up to 450 trucks will travel back and forth to the site as part of the construction of the first buildings on the land which straddles the municipalities of Saint-Basile-le-Grand and McMasterville.
Close to 9,500 dead and living trees will have to be removed on the McMasterville side. In Saint-Basile-le-Grand, more than 14,000 trees were cut.
Last month, Northvolt received a notice of non-compliance from the Quebec Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks because of “accidental brush-cutting” and clearing a marsh that shouldn’t have been cleared.
The company says it has already proposed corrective measures to the Environment Ministry, namely the planting of seven alternate-leaf dogwoods, seven Hart dogwoods and seven yellow willows at the end of the site preparation work. The planting should be completed this spring.
Northvolt’s immense plant will affect 13 hectares of wetlands.
Quebec and Ottawa are financing the construction of the battery plant at a cost of $2.74 billion.