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International Graphite
Investor Insight
International Graphite’s mine-to-market strategy, leveraging its compelling graphite resource, places the company in a strategic position to become an important player in the development and expansion of Western Australia’s battery supply chain.
Overview
International Graphite (ASX:IG6) is a front-runner in the global graphite industry and is aiming to be one of the first new graphite producers.
The company’s vision for a complete mine-to-market supply chain in Western Australia leverages the state’s global reputation as a secure, reliable and technically advanced resource jurisdiction.
Primary focus is the production of active anode materials for lithium-ion batteries to address growing global demand and the forecast shortage looming for allied markets, particularly the US, Europe, Korea and Japan.
Since listing on the ASX in 2022, the company has made rapid headway in the development of two major assets – a planned graphite mine at Springdale and downstream processing facilities at Collie.
The company has been awarded AU$13.2 million in grants from Australian state and commonwealth governments in recognition of its significance to the development of Australia’s sovereign battery minerals capability.
International Graphite further secured a $4.5 million grant funding from the Western Australian Government to construct the first purpose-built commercial graphite micronising plant. About $2 million will be applied towards the ~3,000 tpa micronising facility to be built in Collie at an estimated capital cost of $4 million and the remaining $2.5 million will be applied to expand the facility and at least double capacity (Stage 2).
Market demand
Market attention worldwide is swinging to graphite which is essential for global decarbonization and fast becoming one of the most politically contested of all the critical battery minerals. The graphite market is projected to reach US$24.21 billion by 2031 driven by a CAGR of 5.20 percent.
Graphite is flexible, conductive, heat and corrosion resistant. For decades it has been used to manufacture everything from ceramics and lubricants to plastics and steel.
It is also a major ingredient in batteries of all kinds, making up 95 percent of the active anode in lithium-ion batteries which are the gold standard for electric vehicles, renewable energy storage and advanced medical, defense and aerospace devices.
Of all the components in a lithium-ion battery, the biggest volume is in graphite. It can take 50 to 100 kilograms of graphite to make a single EV battery – up to 10 times more graphite than lithium.
Currently, China supplies over 80 percent of the world’s processed graphite, so its decision to restrict exports to western customers came as a shock in late 2023.
Western nations are scrambling to find alternative supplies to meet existing commitments – and new supplies to meet the shortage of battery materials forecast in the next five years.
With limited graphite sources of its own, and limited prospects in the near term, the US is leading the way, closely followed by Europe, offering unprecedented incentives to fast-track graphite supply from reliable domestic and allied sources.
Company Highlights
- International Graphite (ASX:IG6) is developing a sovereign mine-to-market graphite supply chain in Western Australia, incorporating a graphite mine at Springdale, near Ravensthorpe on the south-coast, and downstream processing facilities in Collie, 200 km south of Perth.
- Primary focus is the production of active anode materials for lithium-ion batteries to address growing demand and a forecast shortage in allied markets, particularly the US, Europe, Korea and Japan.
- The 100 percent owned Springdale Graphite Project is one of the largest in Australia, with a current mineral resource estimate of 49.3 Mt @ 6.5 percent total graphitic content (TGC).
- Now in the final stages of feasibility and permitting, Springdale will host a multi-decade mine and concentrator operation ensuring a secure, reliable feed of graphite concentrates for value-added processing.
- Less than 10 percent of the tenement area and 20 percent of initial geological targets have been drilled indicating enormous potential for future resource expansion.
- In Collie, the company has established Australia’s first graphite R&D and downstream processing facility comprising pilot scale graphite micronizing and spheroidizing and qualification-scale graphite micronizing equipment. The facility has achieved independent ISO 9001 quality assurance certification, the most globally recognized standard for quality management systems.
- Design is well advanced and funding is in place for a commercial-scale micronizing plant due to be constructed at Collie in 2025. It will supply graphite products for traditional manufacturing and industrial applications, including lubricants, plastics and polymers.
- Australian state and commonwealth governments have awarded grants totalling AU$13.2 million to fast-track the business in recognition of its importance to the nation’s critical minerals capability.
- Purification testwork done on Springdale concentrates achieved 99.99 percent purity - well above highest purity anode material product specification of 99.97 percent.
- The company has an expert management team, with proven technical credentials, is committed to rigorous environmental, social and quality standards, and has strong government and community support.
Key Projects
Springdale Graphite Project
International Graphite owns 100 percent of the Springdale graphite project in the established mining centre of Hopetoun/Ravensthorpe, on the south coast of Western Australia.
Springdale is one of the largest graphite deposits in Australia and was named Discovery of the Year in the respected 2023 Prospect Awards.
Following an extensive drilling campaign in 2022-23, the resource estimate increased by more than 240 percent to 49.3 Mt @ 6.5 percent total graphitic content (TGC). This is expected to grow in the future as only 10 percent of the tenement area and 20 percent of initial geological targets have been drilled to date.
Springdale is the site of the company’s planned graphite mine which will provide a consistent and reliable feed of graphite concentrates for downstream processing and give the company full control of its supply chain. A scoping study, released in January 2024, showed the planned open pit operation would be globally cost competitive with a long, multi-decade mine life.
The planned mine is on cleared farmland, with easy access to established roads and infrastructure. Permitting activities are well underway and two mining leases have been granted. The regional community relies heavily on the mining sector and has applauded moves to establish a new operation in their area.
Metallurgical testwork on Springdale concentrates, completed by specialist testing laboratories in Australia and overseas, shows the high-grade, fine flake Springdale ore is ideally suited for the production of battery anode material. Bench scale micronising, spheroidising and purification testwork on graphite concentrates were undertaken by industry specialists ProGraphite GmbH and produced outstanding results. The tests produced two spherical graphite products – SpG11 and SpG18 – with a yield of up to 76 percent. Purification testwork reached 99.99 percent graphite purity – well above the usual specification for battery anode material at 99.97 percent.
International Graphite’s vision for a complete mine-to-market business is designed to achieve maximum value from its Springdale natural graphite resource and is closely aligned with the Australian government's critical minerals strategy and the Western Australian government's vision to establish new world-class industries in Collie.
Collie R&D and Processing Facility
International Graphite’s Collie R&D and Process Facility is a first for Australia and a key link in the company’s mine-to-market strategy.
Backed by an ISO 9001 quality assurance certificate, the Collie facility is home to pilot scale graphite micronizing and spheroidizing equipment, thermal purification equipment, and a qualification-scale micronizing plant that is currently producing sample products for assessment by potential customers in the industrial manufacturing and battery markets.
As well as being widely used in industrial products such as lubricants, plastics and polymers, micronized graphite is a critical conductive additive in battery cathodes. It is also the first stage in the production of active anode material for lithium-ion batteries.
International Graphite plans to expand micronizing at Collie to commercial scale with construction scheduled in 2025. At the same time, it is progressing plans for a separate advanced battery anode material manufacturing facility. The plant design will be tailored to process Springdale graphite concentrates.
Located 450 km by road from Springdale, and close to major export ports, the regional township of Collie is the centre of Western Australia’s electricity generating infrastructure.
Top left: Collie R&D and Process Facility. Top right: Micronizing qualification plant.
Bottom left: Qualification plant in operation. Bottom right: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese inspects the Collie facility.
Management Team
Phil Hearse - Chairman
One of Australia’s leading metallurgists and an authority on graphite project development, Phil Hearse founded International Graphite in 2018 and continues to lead the company’s growth and development. An engineer with more than 40 years of experience in diverse and challenging projects around the world, his extensive career has taken him from operational and technical roles at Broken Hill, Bougainville Copper, Queensland Nickel (QNI) and Gove Alumina to senior executive and managerial positions in engineering and operating companies.
Hearse is the owner and managing director of Battery Limits, one of Australia’s leading graphite metallurgy and process engineering firms. The company has assisted many listed public companies to develop bankable feasibility studies for graphite mines and concentrators and has generated significant intellectual property in downstream processing and knowledge of the end use market. Hearse has an MBA from Hull University UK and a Bachelor of Applied Science in primary metallurgy from the University of SA. He is a fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and a fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
Andrew Worland - Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer
Andrew Worland is a mining executive and experienced ASX/TSX director with over 25 years in senior finance, corporate, project management and marketing roles in the Western Australian mining sector.
Worland's commodity experience includes exploration, development and operations in lead, zinc, nickel, cobalt, gold, iron ore, molybdenum, copper and uranium. He has a Bachelor of Commerce with a major in finance and marketing from the University of Western Australia and is a qualified chartered company secretary and has achieved Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia.
David Pass - Non-executive Director and Technical Director
David Pass has played a key role in the technical development of International Graphite since the company’s inception. A metallurgist with 30 years in the mining industry, he brings a mix of operational processing, process design, project, due diligence skills and management experience including mine operations experience with Barrick Gold.
Pass is chief executive officer of Battery Limits and an acknowledged expert in graphite primary and downstream processing and has led several studies in graphite project development to definitive feasibility level. He holds a Bachelor of Science in metallurgy from Murdoch University and is a member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
Matthew O’Kane - Non-executive Director
Matthew O’Kane is a senior mineral industry executive and company director with 25 years’ experience in the mining, commodities, and automotive sectors. He has held senior leadership roles in Australia, the US and Asia, in both developed and emerging markets, from start-up companies through to MNC’s. He has served on the board of mining companies in Canada, Hong Kong and Australia, and is currently managing director of Comet Resources (ASX:CRL) and a non-executive director of Azarga Uranium (TSX:AZZ) and Pursuit Minerals (ASX:PUR). O’Kane has been a non-executive director of International Graphite since the company was listed in April 2022.
Robert Hodby – Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary
Robert Hodby is a finance and accounting specialist with more than 20 years’ experience in the Australian resource and energy sector, including seven years as CFO and company secretary of Kibaran Resources(ASX:KNL), the predecessor to Australian graphite company EcoGraf (ASX:EGR). A member of CPA Australia and member of the Governance Institute of Australia, Hodby specializes in the financial management and administration of public and listed companies at both operational and corporate levels. During his career, he has held numerous executive and project management positions as well as CFO, board and company secretarial roles, with a strong track record in corporate finance, capital raising and international product marketing, particularly in the emerging graphite market.
Altech – Cerenergy® Battery Project Funding Update
Highlights
- Financing plan and target structure in place
- Funding investment teaser documents and data room established
- Reach out to 10 commercial banks and 2 venture debt funds – all positive interests
- Shortlisting potential lead bank
- Equity Funding – potential sale of minority interest of the project to realise capital and strategic value
- Discussions and draft term sheets shared with investors
- Offtake agreement LOI signed with ZISP
On 14 June 2024, the Company, through its Germany subsidiary Altech Batteries GmbH (“ABG”), announced the appointment of global big four professional services firm (“funding adviser”) to assist in securing finance for the construction of Altech’s 120MWh CERENERGY® battery manufacturing plant in Germany. The project's financing strategy is structured across three key areas: debt, equity, and grants. These sources will cover not only the capital expenditures but also financing costs, working capital, debt service coverage, and an additional contingency for potential business interruptions, See Figure 1.
CEO and MD Iggy Tan Discusses CERENERGY® Funding
Either click the thumbnail below, scan the QR code below or use the YouTube link https://youtu.be/EgMBHp1SRCA to listen to the discussion.
181,057,000 € 20%-30% 40-50% 30% Figure 1 – Financing Plan and Structure
DEBT PROCESS
A funding invitation document (investment teaser) has been finalised and distributed to various financial institutions for debt funding in the project. The Group has engaged ten commercial banks and two venture debt funds in a first market round, receiving predominantly positive initial feedback. Several of these institutions have expressed strong interest in participating in the financing. The Group is now in the process of shortlisting potential lenders to identify the most suitable financial partners for the project. To support a thorough due diligence process, a secure data room has been set up, providing detailed project information to interested financiers and ensuring full transparency. The DFS financial model has been adjusted to stress-test various funding scenarios tailored to the lending institutions ABG has engaged with. Further steps involve determining the most suitable banks to form a syndicate and appointing a lead bank to guide the lending process. This syndicate will play a crucial role in structuring the financing arrangement to meet the project's requirements.
EQUITY FUNDING
In addition to ongoing debt financing efforts, the Group has engaged several equity advisers to support the equity component of the project's funding package. As part of this strategy, the Altech Group plans to divest a minority interest in the project to one or two strategic investors. This partial divestment aims to attract investors who can bring not only capital, but also strategic value to the project, aligning with the CERENERGY® project’s long-term growth and sustainability objectives.
The Group is specifically targeting large utility groups, data centre operators, investment funds and corporations that are heavily involved in the green energy transition. These entities are seen as ideal partners due to their strong alignment with the project’s focus on sustainable energy solutions, as well as their capacity to provide substantial financial backing.
To date, significant progress has been made in these equity discussions. Several Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) have been signed, allowing for deeper engagement with prospective investors. Altech has also circulated draft term sheets to a number of interested parties, outlining the proposed terms and conditions for investment. These documents serve as a starting point for negotiations, paving the way for more detailed discussions regarding the potential equity stake and partnership structure.
The strategic decision to divest a portion of the project is aimed at reducing the overall financial burden on the Company while bringing in experienced partners who can contribute to the project’s success. By securing both the equity and debt components, the Company aims to finalise the full financing package, ensuring the timely construction and commissioning of the CERENERGY® battery plant. The next steps will focus on advancing these discussions and converting interest into formal commitments, which are crucial for moving forward with the project.
OFFTAKE ARRANGEMENTS
On 13 September 24, Altech announced the execution of an Offtake Letter of Intent between Zweckverband Industriepark Schwarze Pumpe (ZISP) and Altech Batteries GmbH. Under this Offtake Letter of Intent (LOI), ZISP will purchase 30 MWh of energy storage capacity annually, consisting of 1MWh GridPacks, for the first five years of production. The price of these batteries has been agreed and aligns with the sales price contained within Altech’s Definitive Feasibility Study. The purchase of these batteries is subject to performance tests, battery specifications and the batteries meeting customer requirements. This offtake LOI constitutes an important aspect of the financing process. This lays the foundation for additional offtake arrangements, which are currently in progress. These agreements are vital for advancing our financing and construction timelines for the CERENERGY® project.
CEO and MD Mr Iggy Tan stated"The funding stage of any project is the most complex and challenging process of any project. Securing a big four funding adviser with expertise and a global network is a major step in our financing efforts. Altech is advancing both debt and equity discussions, along with offtake agreements, to fully fund the CERENERGY® project. We are seeing strong interest, especially from European banks and potential equity partners”.
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from Altech Batteries, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
E-Power Resources
Investor Insight
With its flagship project located in Quebec, one of the best mining jurisdictions in the world, and a highly experienced management team, E-Power is well-positioned to help bolster the North American graphite supply chain, offering a compelling investment proposition.
Overview
E-Power Resources (CSE:EPR) is a battery materials exploration and development company focusing on developing new graphite resources to supply the growing demand for electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing.
Graphite is the dominant component in anodes used in lithium-ion batteries for EVs. This growing need for graphite puts E-Power in an ideal position to develop new projects and support the growing market.
Graphite is also used throughout the manufacturing industry, from foundries to lubricants, and increasing demand from the EV and battery sectors can potentially stretch the graphite supply chain for the manufacturing industry. With only one small graphite producer in North America, E-Power has a significant opportunity to provide the industry with new sources of this vital material.
The company’s flagship asset, the Tetepisca property, covers 12,620 hectares and is in the emerging Tetepisca Graphite District, one of North America's largest potential suppliers of graphite. The project is approximately 200 kilometers from Innovation et Developpement Manicouagan’s (IDM) planned 200,000-ton-per-year battery anode manufacturing facility at Baie-Comeau in Quebec. This proximity enables E-Power the opportunity to provide graphite resources for the new plant. Baie-Comeau is also a port with easy maritime links to European and other North American battery production.
An experienced management team with expertise in geology, corporate finance and capital markets throughout the mining industry leads the company toward its goal of becoming a leading graphite resource supplier in North America.
Company Highlights
- E-Power Resources (CSE:EPR) is a Quebec-based exploration and development company focusing on graphite assets to strengthen the North American renewable energy supply chain.
- The company’s flagship Tetepisca project is within one of North America’s largest and highest-grade graphite districts and is in proximity to a planned anode factory that will require an ongoing supply of graphite.
- The graphite market is expected to grow exponentially as demand increases alongside EV growth.
- Graphite is necessary to manufacture anodes in EVs’ charging systems, creating a steadily growing market for the mineral. Existing use cases in other markets will continue to impact demand.
- A strong management team leads the company towards its mission to strengthen the North American graphite supply chain.
Key Projects
Tetepisca Graphite Project
The flagship Tetepisca Graphite Project consists of 230 claims totaling 12,620 hectares in the Tetepisca Graphite District. The project is in Quebec, a mining-friendly jurisdiction, and 215 kilometers from a planned anode manufacturing facility in Baie-Comeau, Quebec. Tetepisca is ideally positioned to supply the market with graphite resources as the development proceeds.
Project Highlights:
- Completed Exploration Program: E-Power Resources conducted a preliminary prospecting, trenching and sampling exploration program in 2019 and subsequently significantly expanded its land position in the Tetepisca graphite district. In 2021, The company completed further geological mapping and sampling and in early 2022 completed a high resolution airborne geophysical survey over most of its district land holdings.
- Priority Targets Identified: The company has compiled and interpreted all historical exploration data covering the district in addition to its own exploration results and has identified five target areas for follow-up exploration. These areas were chosen due to strong and continuous electromagnetic responses and positive historical surface sampling.
- Promising Geology: The E-Power claims are underlain by a succession of high-grade metamorphic rocks referred to as the Nault Formation which hosts large and high-grade graphite resources in the Tetepisca Graphite District.
- Option Agreement with Volt Carbon Technologies (TSXV:VCT): The agreement enables Volt Carbon to acquire a 5 percent interest in the Tetepisca graphite project by funding $680,000 in exploration before December 31, 2024, and making a one-time cash payment of $1.5 million on or before December 31, 2025.
- 2024 Exploration Program Results: Discovery of new zones of graphite mineralization defined by several high-grade grab samples include 37 percent graphitic carbon (Cg). Samples from advanced exploration targets return 13.2 percent Cg, 16.65 percent Cg, 17.55 percent Cg, and a high of 30 percent Cg. Concentrate grades of 96.5 percent Cg and 96.4 percent Cg were attained from two advanced exploration targets.
Management Team
James Cross – Chief Executive Officer
James Cross is a management consultant with capital markets experience in North America, Europe, the Middle East and South Asia. He served as president and CEO of Canadian Gold Resources, Ltd. from 2012–2017. In 2017, Canadian Gold Resources was sold to Colibri Resources (TSXV:CBI) on a share transaction basis valued at $4 million. He also served as director and vice-president of corporate development for Adroit Resources from 2010 to 2011, then listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. He has also acted as a consultant to a number of resource companies. In 1989, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Management from the A.B Freeman School of Business, Tulane University.
Jamie Lavigne - Vice-president Exploration
Jamie Lavigne is an economic geologist with over 30 years of experience who has participated in several successful exploration and mine development projects. He has held senior positions with major Canadian and Australian mining companies, exploration and management roles with several junior exploration companies, and operates a geological services and consulting company. Lavigne holds a Bachelor of Science from Memorial University of Newfoundland, and a Master of Science from the University of Ottawa and is a member of L’Ordre des Géologues du Quebec and the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists.
Paul Haber - Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary
Paul Haber has been involved in corporate finance and capital markets for over 20 years. He has served as the CFO and audit committee chair of many public and private companies. Some of the boards Haber has sat on include: XTM (CSE:PAID), South American Silver (TSX:SAC), Migao Corporation (TSX:MGO), China Health and Diagnostics. (TSXV:CHO), High Desert Gold (TSXV:HDG), and IND Dairytech (TSXV:IND). Haber has also served as the CFO of various public companies including, Oremex Gold (TSXV:OAG), SEL Exchange (TSXV:SEL) and Migao Corporation (TSX:MGO). Haber started his career with Coopers & Lybrand (now PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP). He is both a chartered accountant and a certified public accountant, with an Honors Bachelor of Arts in management from the University of Toronto. Haber was awarded his chartered director designation from the DeGroote School of Business in partnership with the Conference Board of Canada.