International Graphite could soon be producing battery anode material on a pilot scale in Western Australia after it moved to expand its R&D facilities.

The company has signed the lease on a larger 432sqm building in Collie that will be the centre of its research and development program for graphite processing, quality control, materials handling and skills development.

Additionally, the delivery of improved feedstock enables International Graphite (ASX:IG6) to undertake pilot-scale micronising and spheroidising of graphite for battery anode material applications.

The pilot plant is expected to be commissioned during the third quarter of 2022 with plans to expand the facility over the next 12 months.

Separately, former long-standing WA Member of Parliament Mick Murray has joined the company as its Collie relations manager to help source local content and resources, navigate regulatory requirements and provide advice on how best to contribute to the community.

“The move to this new building is an important step in our development plans and has come quicker than we anticipated. It reflects the momentum we are experiencing in the market as global demand for graphite continues to grow rapidly,” executive chairman Phil Hearse said.

“Graphite production, to the quality battery manufacturers require, is precise and demanding and this phase will enable us to refine our processes and techniques so that when we produce feedstock from our Springdale operation, we can achieve high quality output in a controlled, efficient and responsible way.

“Graphite is also quite different to other materials in that it requires specialist techniques for materials handling, packaging, equipment maintenance and optimisation.”

Pilot plant supporting long-term operations

The pilot plant and R&D program are expected to support the company’s goal of establishing a mine-to-market graphite business with a sovereign supply chain wholly located in Western Australia.

This will be achieved by:

  • Producing micronised and spherical graphite sample product for market testing purposes;
  • Refining graphite laboratory testing for quality control processes;
  • Providing hands-on materials handling and product management experience;
  • Informing the specification and selection of future commercial-scale equipment; and
  • Testing output for BAM suitability and yield expectations.

International’s laboratory equipment will incorporate an ultra-high temperature furnace and thermogravimetric testing and analysis equipment.

These will be used to develop a thermal purification process alongside non-HF chemical processing, both of which are safer and more environmentally responsible than traditional chemical-based graphite processing techniques.

 

 

 

This article was developed in collaboration with International Graphite, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

 

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.