161-kV BlackRock Metals Mining Property Electricity Service

Project justification BlackRock Metals Inc. wishes to carry out a mining project south of Lac Chibougamau, about 30 km southeast of the town of Chibougamau and 60 km east of the community of Oujé-Bougoumou.

The electrical load from all BlackRock Metals mining property facilities will be about 20 MW in 2014, reaching 44 MW in 2020.

The current project consists of building a power line to connect the future BlackRock Metals substation to Hydro-Québec TransÉnergie’s transmission system. Commissioning of this power line is planned for spring 2014.

Hydro-Québec TransÉnergie has asked Hydro-Québec Équipement et services partagés to conduct the draft-design studies for the planned supply of the BlackRock Metals mining property.

GENERAL INFORMATION • May 2012

2

Study area

The zone under study covers an area of just over 140 km2 (see map) south of Lac Chibougamau, on the territory governed by the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement. It consists entirely of Category III lands, split between the municipalities of Baie-James and Chibougamau.

The study area crosses a few traplines used by members of the Cree Nation of Oujé-Bougoumou. The tallymen and their families hunt, fish and trap on the traplines. Route 167 is the only road that crosses the study area, running east-west at its southern end. A 161-kV power line runs along this road and a 735-kV line also crosses the study area. Last, a railway and many logging roads are also found in the study area.

The region, which is essentially woodland, is characterized by the presence of many lakes, wetlands and rivers. The main human activities practiced are logging, traditional Aboriginal activities and recreational activities.

Project description

The project involves building a 161-kV

single-circuit line about 30 km long,

tapping off circuit 1627 to the planned

substation for the mine.

After project completion, Hydro-Québec

plans to dismantle part of the existing

line (circuit 1627) between the

tap-off and Obatogamau substation.

The Obatogamau substation will

also be dismantled as part of another

project.

The construction of the transformer

substation on the mine site is the

responsibility of the BlackRock Metals

promoter and not part of this project.

Environmental assessment

The construction of a power line can have a number of different environmental impacts. Hydro-Québec recently began draft-design studies, which will help determine the route with the least impact on the host environment. The studies will examine matters such as vegetation, wildlife, land use, and landscape. Filing of the environmental assessment needed to obtain the required government permits is planned for fall 2012.

3

167

167

LacMalo

LacCharron

CoquilleLac de la

LacBoisvert

Lac dela Besace

LacStella Lac

Dollier

LacAudet

LacMerrill

Chevrier

Le Royer

HolmesLac

LacsObatogamau

Lacs

LacGilman

ÎlesLac des

LacArmitage

JenozeauLac

Da v id

Arm

itage

Rivi

ère

Villefagnan

Rau

Chi

boug

amau

Riv.

Ruisseau

Nem

enjic

he

DorésLac aux

LacLaurent

LacAndré

Lac del'Aventure

Lac del'Auberge

Lac

Vimont

Ruisseau

Villefag

nanRu is se

au

LacChibougamau

BlackRock Metalsubstation

Obatogamausubstation

1627

70847085

7086

To Chibougamau substation

To Chapais substationC

N R

ailway

CNR

ailway

45

O55

PosteObalski

Mun

icip

ality

of

Bai

e-Ja

mes

Town of Chibougamau

Municipality of Baie-James

Baie-James (M)

Mun

icip

ality

of B

aie-

Jam

es

Tow

n of

Chi

boug

amau

Unorganized territory of Lac-Ashuapmushuan

James

Bay

and

North

ern

Qué

bec A

gree

men

t

45

O55

O57AO57A

O60

24

O57A

O59

O57A etO59

O57A etO59

O57A

O60

O5924

O59

O59

O59

O60

O59

O58

93

74°5'

74°5'

74°10'

74°10'

74°15'

74°15'

74°20'

74°20'

49°5

0'

49°5

0'

49°4

5'

49°4

5'

49°4

0'

49°4

0'

49°3

5'

49°3

5'

Document for information purposes only. For any other use, please contact Géomatique at Hydro-Québec Équipement et services partagés.

Vacationing, recreation and tourism

Vegetation and wildlife

Outfitter without exclusive rights

Trans-Québec snowmobile trail

Exceptional forest ecosystem

Exceptional forest ecosystem project

Experimental forest

Special-status wildlife species

Wetland

Regenerating forest (20 years and less)

Young forest (21 to 40 years)

Mature forest (41 years and over)

Infrastructure

Project components

Transmission substations and lines

735 kV

161 kV

Planned substation (BlackRock Metals)

Study area (line to be built)

Circuit number (voltage color)1627

Study area (line to be dismantled)

Boundaries

Municipality

Cree traplineO59

Other road

Main road

Railway

MTM, zone 8, NAD830901_bu_nu_007_120525a.mxd

km0 1.4 2.8

Biological refuge

Project location

Ce document est également publié en français.

2012E0547-APrinted on paper made in Québec from 100% postconsumer recycled fibre.

Public participation Favorable reception from local communities is an essential condition for Hydro-Québec projects. The company will implement a public participation and consultation process to ensure that project studies are carried out in collaboration with the host communities. To ensure that their concerns are taken into consideration, Hydro-Québec will hold information and consultation sessions with community representatives, including the tallymen affected by the project, while the studies are under way.

Project scheduleDRAFT DESIGN

General information Spring 2012

Information and consultation Summer 2012

Information on route selected Fall 2012

PROJECTFiling of the environmental impact statement Fall 2012

Permitting Summer 2013

Construction Winter 2013–2014

Commissioning Spring 2014

www.hydroquebec.com

Information

Richard Simard Advisor – Community Relations and Special Projects Telephone: 418 748-8200, extension 8319 Toll-free: 1 800 679-9919, option 5 simard.richard.3@hydro.qc.ca

Jimmy LavoieAdvisor – Aboriginal Relations and Projects Telephone: 418 748-8200, extension 8339 Toll-free: 1 800 679-9919, option 4 lavoie.jimmy@hydro.qc.ca

Direction régionale – La Grande Rivière 511, route 167 Sud C. P. 100 Chibougamau (Québec) G8P 2K5