Mason Graphite Announces Order of Long-lead Key Equipment for Its Planned Processing Plant

MONTREAL, March 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mason Graphite Inc. (“Mason Graphite” or the “Company”) (TSX.V:LLG) (OTCQX:MGPHF) is pleased to announce that a down payment has been made to a global leader in minerals and metals processing technology equipment manufacturer in early January 2018, thus confirming a $12.2M purchase order issued in December 2017 covering approximately 30% of all the required equipment for the processing plant. This order covers key equipment with critical delivery schedule such as all the mills, flotation cells & columns, thickeners and filters.

Benoît Gascon, President and CEO of Mason Graphite, commented: “The execution of the project has recently met some major milestones, such as the completion of detailed engineering for the civil work for both sites and the construction of the access road leading to the plant site in Baie-Comeau. Maintenance work on forest Road 202 leading to the mine site has also started last fall and will resume this spring. This purchase order, another very important milestone, brings the project one step closer to construction which will be able to begin once the final authorizations are obtained.” 

Further procurement work is ongoing and other purchase orders to other suppliers, notably for wet screens, pumps, dryer, scrubber and crusher, will soon be issued according to a delivery schedule. A bidding process aimed at finalizing the selection of contractors for the civil work at both sites has also been launched and is now well advanced as bids were received and are currently being evaluated.

Finally, a new piloting campaign is underway, its main objective being the production of additional concentrate material to be used for customers’ testing, piloting work on the value-added products and supply to NanoXplore’s graphene production facility.

Qualified Persons consent

Jean L'Heureux, Eng., M. Eng., Executive Vice-President, Process Development for Mason Graphite, and a Qualified Person, as defined by NI 43-101, was responsible for verifying the technical data herein and has read and approved this press release.

About Mason Graphite and the Lac Guéret Project

Mason Graphite is a Canadian mining and processing company focused on the development of its 100% owned Lac Guéret natural graphite deposit located in northeastern Québec. The Company is led by a highly experienced team that has over five decades of experience in graphite production, sales, and research and development. For more information, visit www.masongraphite.com.

Mason Graphite Inc. On Behalf of the Board

“Benoît Gascon, CPA, CA”, President & Chief Executive Officer

For more Information:
Simon Marcotte, CFA, Director Corporate Development at +1 (647) 801-7273 and at info@masongraphite.com

For more information relating to local communities:
Luc Veilleux, CPA, CA, Executive Vice-President and CFO at +1 (514) 289-3582 and at info@masongraphite.com

Head Office: 3030, boulevard Le Carrefour, bureau 600, Laval, Québec, H7T 2P5

Cautionary Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All information contained herein that is not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. Generally, such forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: (i) volatile stock price; (ii) the general global markets and economic conditions; (iii) the possibility of write-downs and impairments; (iv) the risk associated with exploration, development and operations of mineral deposits; (v) the risk associated with establishing title to mineral properties and assets; (vi) the risks associated with entering into joint ventures; (vii) fluctuations in commodity prices; (viii) the risks associated with uninsurable risks arising during the course of exploration, development and production; (ix) competition faced by the resulting issuer in securing experienced personnel and financing; (x) access to adequate infrastructure to support mining, processing, development and exploration activities; (xi) the risks associated with changes in the mining regulatory regime governing the resulting issuer; (xii) the risks associated with the various environmental regulations the resulting issuer is subject to; (xiii) risks related to regulatory and permitting delays; (xiv) risks related to potential conflicts of interest; (xv) the reliance on key personnel; (xvi) liquidity risks; (xvii) the risk of potential dilution through the issue of common shares; (xviii) the Company does not anticipate declaring dividends in the near term; (xix) the risk of litigation; and (xx) risk management.

Forward-looking information is based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made, including but not limited to, continued exploration activities, no material adverse change in metal prices, exploration and development plans proceeding in accordance with plans and such plans achieving their stated expected outcomes, receipt of required regulatory approvals, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information has been provided for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Company's business, operations and exploration plans and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake to update such forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.