Nouveau Monde Announces the Addition of Three Renowned Experts to its Development Team on its Matawinie Graphite Project

GATINEAU, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Mar 18, 2016) - Nouveau Monde Mining Enterprises Inc. ("Nouveau Monde") (TSX VENTURE: NOU)(OTC PINK:NMGRF)(FRANKFURT:NM9) is pleased to announce the addition of three renowned experts to its Matawinie graphite project development team.

MINING DEVELOPMENT - SERGE BUREAU, M.SC., ENG.

Mr. Bureau obtained his bachelor's and Master's Geological Engineering degree from the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi. He is a member in good standing of the Ordre des Ingénieurs du Quebec (OIQ). Mr. Bureau brings over 30 years of mining industry experience related to the exploration, delineation, development and mining of ore deposits. This includes over 25 years in gold and polymetallic mining projects, both in underground and open-pit operations. His duties involved evaluations, feasibility studies, mine construction and operation management on numerous projects.

During his expansive career, Mr. Bureau was tasked with supervising the Engineering and Geology Departments of the Bousquet, Doyon and East Malartic mine for the Barrick Gold Corp.. Mr. Bureau was also involved in supervising the El Indio Mine in Chile, and the Alto Chicama - Las Lagunas Norte mine in Peru. As part of Barrick's Business Development Group for the Peru region, Mr. Bureau was also involved in supervising other technical projects there. Serge Bureau also served as Barrick's Director of Capital Projects for Russia and East Asia and as Manager of Technical Services for the feasibility study at Pueblo Viejo. From 2008 to 2013, Mr. Bureau was involved as President and CEO of Crevier Minerals Inc. and MDN Inc.

Nouveau Monde has mandated Mr. Bureau to perform as an advisor and work with the management of Nouveau Monde to supervise all phases of mining development for the Matawinie project. Serge Bureau's tasks will also comprise of coordinating the multiple subcontractors involved in the project with the goal of delivering a Feasibility Study, as well as an Impact and Benefit Assessment report in a timely fashion.

VALUE-ADDED GRAPHITE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT - ALAIN MERCIER, ENG., PMP

Mr. Mercier obtained his Bachelor's degree in engineering from the Université de Sherbrooke in the Province of Quebec. He is a member in good standing of the Ordre des Ingénieurs du Quebec (OIQ) and a member of the Project Management Institute. Alain Mercier has 25 years of experience in the industrial and manufacturing environment. He possesses an extensive knowledge of capital project management. During his career, he assumed responsibilities and a leadership role at all project stages including; prefeasibility, feasibility and execution. Mr. Mercier has experience in engineering, procurement, construction management, commissioning and operational readiness.

Mr. Mercier started his career as project manager with Noranda, where he was involved in the implementation of new technologies and the commissioning of process systems. He also worked in production, maintenance and product development roles for Fraser Papers. He then became director of production, and later, vice-president of operations for Concert Airlaid Ltd., before starting his own consulting company named: Gestion de Projets Mercier Inc. Alain has since been involved in the development phase and execution phase of numerous mining and metallurgical capital projects for companies such as Glencore, Sheritt International and Stornoway Diamonds. One of his recent mandates was to lead a project team and deliver a feasibility study on the modernization of a metallurgical plant involving Chinese and Canadian engineering collaboration.

Mr. Mercier's initial mandate for Nouveau Monde is to advise and work with the company's management regarding all engineering-related work necessary for the construction of a graphite spheronization operation in Saint-Michel-des-Saints. His task will thus involve the supervision of a handful of world-leading engineers which are based in Asia, Europe and North America (which remain unnamed for competitive reasons), specializing in the production of spherical graphite and anode material. These engineers are currently collaborating with Nouveau Monde.

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - FREDERIC GAUTHIER, B.Sc.

Mr. Gauthier studied forest management, environmental sciences, human, and physical geography with an emphasis on regional planning and local development. He recently obtained a graduate diploma in mining management. Frédéric Gauthier is a geographer with over 10 years of experience in responsible mining and land-use planning. He possesses an excellent knowledge of socio-economic and environmental matters at the regional, national and international levels.

As a consultant, Mr. Gauthier has worked with various companies and organizations including; Cartier Resources, Osisko, Alexandria Minerals, CDETNO (North-West Territories economic development Corporation) and the Abitibiwinni First Nation (Pikogan). He served as sustainability manager for Geomega Resources where he was actively involved in the Montviel rare earth project, which is located in Eeyou Istchee (James Bay) in northern Quebec. There, he coordinated environmental studies and community relations. Mr. Gauthier also worked in land use and urban planning for the City of Rouyn-Noranda, in Abitibi. He successfully managed a major land reclamation program in the Russian Far-East for Kinross Gold. He currently holds a position of director on the Canadian-Malartic monitoring committee.

Frédéric Gauthier has collaborated with Nouveau Monde since April of 2014. His present tasks include; the integration of environmental and social aspects for the Matawinie project, the coordination of environmental permitting and the implementation of a co-conception process with local stakeholders. Mr. Gauthier's mandate aims to address local concerns and expectations during the project development, and to ensure a low environmental footprint.

MATAWINIE GRAPHITE PROJECT

The Matawinie project boasts a graphite resource estimate on the Tony claim block totaling 48.6 Mt at a grade of 3.97 % Cg in the Indicated Category and 34.7 Mt at a grade of 4.08 % Cg in the Inferred Category (see press release dated February 23, 2016). The project is located in the Saint-Michel-des-Saints area, some 130 km north of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The two deposits forming the resource estimate are easily accessible by road, close to infrastructure and to affordable hydroelectricity.

Eric Desaulniers, P.Geo, President & CEO of Nouveau Monde stated: "Now that we have discovered a world-class graphite deposit in the Matawinie region thanks to the best exploration team that a CEO can dream of, we are now committed to build a outstanding team of experts in industrial and mining development which will launch the company into a new phase of growth."

GRANT OF OPTIONS

The Corporation announces the grant of 75,000 options to each of the three consultants mentioned above for a total of 225,000 options. Each option shall entitle its holder thereof to subscribe for one common share of the Corporation, at a price of $0.20 per common share, for a period of five years from the date of grant. These options will vest one quarter at issuance and by period of three months until December 18, 2016. These options were granted in accordance with the terms of the current stock option plan of the Corporation.

The press release was reviewed by Eric Desaulniers, M.Sc., P.Geo., President and CEO of Nouveau Monde, a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 guidelines.

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) has in any way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction or approved or disapproved the contents of this press release.

Except for historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated by such statements. Nouveau Monde will not update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. More detailed information about potential factors that could affect financial results is included in the documents filed from time to time with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities by Nouveau Monde.

Contact

Eric Desaulniers, M.Sc., P.Geo.
President and Chief Executive Officer of Nouveau Monde
(819) 923-0333