Evolution Energy Minerals (ASX:EV1) has delivered the first graphite purification result for the European Union’s STREAMS battery materials program, upgrading Chilalo concentrate to 99.99% carbon.
The company is the sole Australian partner and only natural graphite project among 19 participants in the EU’s Horizon Europe program.
EV1 purified a 280kg bulk sample of Chilalo concentrate from 95.7% total graphitic carbon to 99.99 weight per cent carbon using American Energy Technologies’ thermal purification processes under test conditions.
Managing Director Craig Moulton the program’s first purification result confirms the quality of Chilalo graphite in that pathway.
“Being part of STREAMS places Chilalo inside Europe’s coordinated effort to secure its battery materials supply — and, as the consortium’s only graphite mine, EV1 sits at the very start of that chain,” Moulton says.
“That the EU named Chilalo specifically in its evaluation is meaningful external recognition of both the deposit and of Tanzania as a responsible source of graphite.”
EV1 is now advancing anode-material production and pilot-scale 10 ampere-hour lithium-ion cell testing.
STREAMS commenced on 1 January 2024 with total eligible project costs of approximately €6.1 million ($10 million). The program aims to develop and demonstrate sustainable technologies for battery-grade and active materials from primary, secondary, and recycled sources.
EV1 receives no direct EU grant funding under the program but supplies natural flake graphite concentrate from Chilalo as the primary feed source.
The company is progressing a staged development strategy for Chilalo and targets first graphite concentrate production in October 2027.
Evolution Energy Minerals is a minerals company focused on the exploration and development of critical minerals in Tanzania.
Write to Paula Fabe at Mining.com.au
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