International Graphite (ASX:IG6) has started installation of the new qualification scale micronising plant at its downstream graphite processing facility in Collie, Western Australia.
The $28.24 million market capitalisation company says commissioning of the plant will occur in November.
Managing Director and CEO Andrew Worland notes the new plant was another milestone in International Graphite’s plans to produce Western Australian battery anode material (BAM) for the growing lithium-ion battery market.
Worland says: “We have made enormous progress in the past 18 months advancing our Springdale Graphite Project on the south-coast of Western Australia and establishing our initial processing base in Collie.
“The new micronising plant expands our micronising and spheroidising R&D facilities in Collie“
The new micronising plant expands our micronising and spheroidising R&D facilities in Collie. It will be capable of producing between 100 and 200tpa of micronised graphite products at the quality necessary to secure customer sales agreements.“
Micronised graphite is the first step in the production of BAM, and a by-product of the spheroidising process. It can be sold as a conductive additive to battery cathodes, or for use in a wide range of industrial applications.
The CEO adds the product from the plant will be used to launch the International Graphite brand into the global market, refine the case for commercial micronising, and develop graphite marketing and product handling experience vital for its BAM operations.
“The plant can be tailored to shape micronised graphite to produce a spheroidised graphite. It will also be used to undertake testwork on graphite concentrates from Springdale and to support our BAM feasibility studies.
Our focus now is to complete the necessary technical studies to integrate graphite concentrate production from Springdale with BAM facilities in Collie and to establish the Company as a globally pre-eminent mine-to-market supplier of graphite for the lithium-ion battery market.”
International Graphite’ has received support from both Australian federal and state governments, receiving commitments totalling $6.7 million to date including $4.7 million from the Critical Mineral Office.
International Graphite is an emerging supplier of processed graphite products, including battery anode material, for the global electric vehicle and renewable energy markets.
It is developing a sovereign Australian ‘mine to market’ capability, with integrated operations wholly located in Western Australia. The company is on track to one day start mining and producing graphite concentrate from its 100% owned Springdale Graphite Project and commercial scale downstream processing at Collie.
International Graphite is scheduled to exhibit at the upcoming International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) held in Sydney from 31 October to 2 November 2023. Mining.com.au is an official media partner of IMARC, which will showcase 500-plus mining leaders and resource experts throughout 7 concurrent conferences.
The company is also listed on Tradegate and Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FWB:H99, WKN:A3DJY5) and is a member of the European Battery Alliance (EBA250) and European Raw Minerals Alliance (ERMA).
Write to Adam Orlando at Mining.com.au
Images: International Graphite
