EcoGraf (ASX:EGR) reports it has been advised by the Government of Tanzania that the signing date for the framework agreement for the development and operation of the Epanko Graphite Project is scheduled for 17 April.
The diversified battery anode materials company reports this is a significant milestone and follows the recent Epanko site visit by the Special Presidential Government Negotiating Team.
EcoGraf is building a vertically integrated battery anode materials business to produce ‘high-purity’ graphite products for the lithium-ion battery and advanced manufacturing markets.
More than US$30 million has been invested to date to create a highly attractive graphite mining and mineral processing business.
The company says it welcomes partnering with the Tanzanian government as it will be a key stakeholder in Epanko’s development, which is poised to be a ‘world-class’ graphite project forecasted to make an inter-generational contribution to the local economy.
The signing of the agreement follows a range of new EU and US government policies and legislation for the development of new supply chains to support the transition to clean energy.
These include US Treasury IRA guidance on new clean vehicle credit criteria to strengthen critical mineral supply chains; US Vice President Kamala Harris’ visit to Tanzania to deepen the strategic relationship with the Tanzanian government; EU announcement of further policies to support EU supply chains; and the Japan-US trade deal to strengthen Japan’s battery supply chains with member countries of the Mineral Security Partnership.
In Tanzania, EcoGraf is developing the TanzGraphite natural flake graphite business, commencing with the Epanko Graphite Project, to provide a long-term, scalable supply of feedstock for EcoGraf battery anode material processing facilities, together with ‘high-quality’ large flake graphite products for specialised industrial applications.
Using its environmentally sound EcoGraf HFfree purification technology, the company will upgrade the flake graphite to produce 99.95% C high performance battery anode material to supply EV, battery, and anode manufacturers in Asia, Europe, and North America as the world transitions to clean, renewable energy.
Write to Adam Orlando at Mining.com.au
Images: EcoGraf Ltd
