Northern Graphite (TSX-V:NGC) has been selected for a Canada-Japan program that will independently test its battery anode materials against established industry benchmarks.
Natural Resources Canada will provide C$155,800 ($158,052) in funding for the company to participate in testing by Japan’s Lithium-ion Battery Technology and Evaluation Center (LIBTEC).
Northern is the initiative’s only battery anode material developer, alongside Canadian companies working on cathode materials. The program forms part of cooperation between Canada and Japan aimed at developing battery and critical mineral supply chains outside China.
The company will supply battery anode material (BAM) samples made from graphite mined at its Lac des Iles Mine in Québec, Canada, and upgraded through its battery materials technology platform.
LIBTEC will test and compare the samples under standardised conditions used by battery manufacturers. The evaluation will examine capacity, charging performance, cycle life, and consistency.
CEO Dr Moritz Hantel says the independent assessment will help Northern demonstrate whether its material meets potential customers’ requirements.
“This initiative is a key step in demonstrating the commercial readiness of our BAM portfolio,” Hantel says.
“Working together with LIBTEC allows Northern to independently demonstrate the capability of our BAM and helps to facilitate the ongoing discussion with the Japanese battery ecosystem.”
Northern says it expects the results to support further product development, customer qualification, and discussions with Japanese battery and automotive companies. The company says third-party performance data will be important as manufacturers assess alternative sources of battery materials.
The program also gives Northern access to Japan’s battery testing infrastructure while supporting government efforts to diversify supplies of graphite and other critical minerals.
Northern Graphite is a Canadian natural graphite producer with the operating Lac des Iles Mine, the Bissett Creek Graphite Project in Ontario, Canada, and the Okanjande Graphite Mine in Namibia.
Write to France Pinzon at Mining.com.au
Images: Northern Graphite
