Renascor results show lithium-ion battery-grade graphite

RNU achieves lithium-ion battery-anode-grade graphite up to 99.99% carbon
Trials will inform design of planned purified spherical graphite demonstration facility
Facility co-funded by Australian Government for up to $5m

Special Report: Renascor Resources says downstream equipment trials for its planned Purified Spherical Graphite (PSG) manufacturing facility in South Australia have achieved lithium-ion battery-anode-grade graphite across all targeted product specifications.

The downstream work is part of the company’s vertically integrated Battery Anode Material (BAM) operation which comprises an upstream graphite mining and processing operation, and a downstream BAM facility in which graphite concentrates will be converted into PSG before being exported to lithium-ion battery anode manufacturers.

These trials successfully produced lithium-ion battery grade graphite, with results of up to 99.99% carbon (C), versus the anode industry standard of 99.95% C.

The company says the trials further validated its eco-friendly, hydrofluoric (HF) free purification process and build upon previously completed lab-scale and locked-cycle tests by incorporating commercially available equipment into the proposed purification circuit.

They also provided detailed equipment specifications to be incorporated into the engineering design for the planned PSG demonstration facility – which is intended to validate the commercial viability of Renascor Resources’ (ASX:RNU) PSG process.

PSG facility on track for Q2 2025

Notably, the company was recently awarded a $5 million grant under the Australian government’s International Partnerships in Critical Minerals Program to co-fund the PSG demonstration facility.

The demonstration facility will convert graphite concentrates from Renascor’s Siviour Graphite Deposit into PSG through a continuous production process, enabling Renascor to test, demonstrate and optimise its purification flowsheet prior to detailed design and construction of the full-scale commercial facility.

Engineering has now commenced for the facility and the company is on schedule to begin commissioning of the demonstration plant in Q2 2025.

“Renascor’s eco-friendly, HF-free purification technology has the potential to deliver a globally competitive PSG operation and advance Renascor towards its goal of becoming a long-term producer of high-quality graphite products to the lithium-ion battery sector,” RNU managing director David Christensen said.

“With these positive results from the recently completed equipment trials, we have achieved an important milestone in the delivery of our Australian government co-funded PSG demonstration facility.”

Upstream acceleration on the cards

In the meantime, the company plans to accelerate the development of the upstream mining operation to reduce the time to first production of graphite to coincide with projected near-term supply shortfalls.

Renascor is currently undertaking an Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) process to mature engineering design of the upstream minerals processing plant and non-processing infrastructure.

The ECI process is intended to culminate with an executable EPC contract for the upstream operation, comprising a fully priced offer, agreed commercial terms, finalised project works scope, technical specifications and performance parameters.

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.