Renascor Resources gains ministerial approval for battery anode facility

• Renascor Resources secures provisional approval for construction of South Australian purified spherical graphite plant
• Facility will be capable of producing up to 100,000tpa of PSG for use in lithium-ion batteries
• Company progressing PSG demonstration facility with full-scale commissioning in Q4 2025

Special Report: Renascor Resources has taken another step towards becoming a battery anode materials producer after South Australia approved its development application for a commercial-scale manufacturing facility.

The grant of the provisional development authorisation from SA Minister for Planning Nick Champion allows the company to start construction of the downstream portion of its vertically integrated BAM project to produce purified spherical graphite (PSG). 

It follows extensive consultation with community stakeholders and local and State Government agencies along with the Minister’s determination that Renascor’s Environmental Impact Statement for the facility meets the standards of South Australia’s Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016.

The authorisation is conditional on Renascor Resources (ASX:RNU) securing approval for the final detailed design and plans for the BAM facility, which will be capable of producing up to 100,000tpa of PSG for use in lithium-ion batteries.

It comes as the company advances its co-funded PSG demonstration facility with commissioning of the water treatment circuit planned for next quarter and full-scale commissioning expected in Q4 2025.

“With this important regulatory milestone now achieved, we look forward to continuing our engagement with the Department for Housing and Urban Development, the City of Salisbury and the local community as we advance our plans to construct and operate a state-of-the art manufacturing facility in South Australia,” managing director David Christensen said.

BAM project

Besides the PSG manufacturing facility, the BAM project includes the Siviour graphite deposit and the planned graphite mine and processing operation.

Siviour is the world’s second largest proven reserve of graphite and the largest outside of Africa.

It is expected to be exploited via a conventional open pit mine and crush, grind, float processing circuit that will deliver world-class operating costs due to the favourable geology and geometry of the deposit.

Graphite concentrate from the mine will then be converted into PSG using an environmentally-friendly processing method before it is exported to lithium-ion battery anode manufacturers.

The project is at an advanced development stage with the company having completed a definitive feasibility study and secured approval for its Program for Environment Protection and Rehabilitation for the upstream graphite mine and processing operation.

RNU is also in a strong position to deliver the project with ~$107m in cash as of March 31, 2025, and a conditionally approved $185 million loan facility from the Australian Government’s $4 billion Critical Minerals Facility.

This article was developed in collaboration with Renascor Resources, 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.