International Graphite finalises $2M Government Financial Agreement for Collie Micronising Facility
18 October 2022
HIGHLIGHTS
- $2 million Financial Assistance Agreement signed with the Western Australian State Government.
- Finalises requirements for Collie Futures Industry Development Fund grant.
- Funds to be applied to Micronising Facility and continued R&D of battery anode material facilities.
International Graphite Limited (ASX: IG6) has finalised a $2 million Financial Assistance Agreement with the Western Australian Government’s Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (JTSI) on behalf of the Stage Government of Western Australia.
The agreement formalises the grant announced in July 2021 and is being made available via the Collie Futures Industry Development Fund.
Fig 1: Western Australian Minister for Regional Development the Hon. Alannah MacTiernan MLC (centre) announces the grant at a media briefing in Collie with International Graphite Chairman Phil Hearse and Collie-Preston MLA Jodie Hann, in July 2021.1
Executive Chairman Phil Hearse said the agreement was key to establishing a new industry for WA and creating new jobs, in Collie.
“Graphite is critical for global decarbonisation and we are proud to be partnering with the WA Government in Collie to establish a new sovereign supply for Australia and a new global source for international battery manufacturers as they source raw materials needed to achieve the exceptional forecast growth in battery demand.”
International Graphite has recently commissioned its pilot micronising and spheroidising plant at Collie.
The financial assistance is earmarked for the development of a 1,000 tonne per year commercial graphite micronising facility and ongoing research and development at the Company’s planned battery anode material plant in Collie.
The Company is now working to procure ‘production qualification scale’ equipment which will demonstrate the Company’s ability to produce micronised graphite product and provide the quality control necessary to secure customer sales agreements. The Company then plans to procure commercial scale equipment and complete front end engineering and design for the Collie micronising facility by the end of 2023.
In the future, International Graphite’s planned downstream graphite operations aim to process graphite concentrates from the Company’s Springdale Graphite Project near Hopetoun in Western Australia. The micronised and spheroidised graphite product will then be purified and is also expected to be coated to produce a finished product suitable for the manufacture of Lithium-ion battery anodes. Production of a coated BAM product in Australia for export to global anode manufacturers would capture the full value of the graphite resource.
This announcement has been authorised for release by the Board of Directors of International Graphite Limited.
Phil Hearse
Executive Chairman
For more information please contact:
Robert Hodby
CFO/Company Secretary
robert.hodby@internationalgraphite.com.au
+61 407 770 183
Marie Howarth
Media & Communication
marie.howarth@internationalgraphite.com.au
+61 412 111 962
About International Graphite
International Graphite is an emerging supplier of processed graphite products, including battery anode material, for the global electric vehicle and renewable energy markets.
Figure 1: International Graphite Project Locations
The Company is developing a sovereign Australian ‘mine to market’ graphite production capability, with integrated operations wholly located in Western Australia. The business intends to build on Australia’s reputation for technical excellence and outstanding ESG performance, with future mining and graphite concentrate production from its 100% owned Springdale Graphite Project and commercial scale downstream processing at Collie. International Graphite is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: IG6) and 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).