The Conversation (0)
BlackEarth Minerals NL (ASX: BEM) (the Company or BlackEarth) is pleased to announce it has received further outstanding assay results from its Razafy Northwest (NW) diamond drilling at its 100% owned Maniry Graphite Project in Southern Madagascar.
Highlights
- Further assay results received from the Company’s Razafy NW Resource add to the potential of this high-grade area.
- Additional assay results received for drillholes MNDD114 to MNDD119 and MNDD130 to MNDD135; intersections include:
- 22.3m at 8.14% TGC incl. 10m at 11.36% TGC (MNDD118)
- 38.25m at 6.45% TGC incl. 8.1m at 10.16% TGC (MNDD130)
- 13.8m at 13.98% TGC incl. 8m at 18.60% TGC (MNDD130)
- 35.95m at 8.18% TGC (MNDD134)
- Given the high grade nature of this area, the current DFS will now incorporate the Razafy NW area as a priority feed material into the Maniry Graphite Project.
- Additional Assay Results will allow the Company to shortly publish an updated and expanded Resource Statement.
- The updated and expanded Resource has the potential to significantly increase the proposed mine life for Maniry.
- Final assay results from the area are expected shortly.
Figure 1: Razafy North West – Drilling Cross-section (A-B)
The assays received to date from Razafy NW, have confirmed the continuity not only of the graphite mineralisation at depth and along strike but also the high grade nature of the Resource. As a result the Board believes it is advantageous to integrate the Razafy NW area into the DFS as “initial priority feed”.
Applications have been sent to the Madagascan Mining authorities to expand the current mining license (ML 5394) to include a broader area including the Razafy NW Resource. The key benefits of this approach will be to:
- Position the Project to start up with higher grade material
- Take advantage of the rising price of natural graphite concentrate and
- Provide potential project financiers an optimum payback period
In order to integrate the Razafy NW material into the current DFS, the Study is now likely to be completed in October 2022. As part of current Study activities, an updated Razafy Resource will be released to the market shortly.
Commenting on these results, BlackEarth Managing Director, Tom Revy, said:
“The current and expanding data base on the Razafy NW area has certainly surpassed our initial expectations; exploration activities are continuing in the area.
Our new approach to accelerate its development as part of the current DFS is a critical component towards ultimately achieving Project development finance.”
Map 1: Drill collars and drill traces for Razafy NW. Map grid = 250 m x 250 m, north at top of map Location of Section A-B highlighted on Map (refer Figure 1)
Map 2: Maniry Graphite Project Area
Competent Person’s Statement
The information in this statement that relates to Exploration Targets and Exploration Results is based on information compiled by Mr Jannie Leeuwner – BSc (Hons) Pr.Sci.Nat. MGSSA and is a full-time employee of Vato Consulting LLC. Mr. Leeuwner is a registered Professional Natural Scientist (Pr.Sci.Nat. - 400155/13) with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professional (SACNASP). Mr. Leeuwner has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposits under consideration and the activity being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the Note for Mining Oil & Gas Companies, June 2009, of the London Stock Exchange and the 2012 Edition of the ‘Australian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves’ (JORC Code). Mr. Leeuwner consents to the inclusion of the information in this release in the form and context in which it appears.
Forward Looking Statements
Some of the statements appearing in this announcement may be in the nature of forward looking statements. You should be aware that such statements are only predictions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. Those risks and uncertainties include factors and risks specific to the industries in which BlackEarth operates and proposes to operate as well as general economic conditions, prevailing exchange rates and interest rates and conditions in the financial markets, among other things. Actual events or results may differ materially from the events or results expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement.
No forward looking statement is a guarantee or representation as to future performance or any other future matters, which will be influenced by a number of factors and subject to various uncertainties and contingencies, many of which will be outside the Company’s control.
The Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or release any revisions to these forward- looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after today's date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the fairness, accuracy, completeness or correctness of the information, opinions or conclusions contained in this announcement. To the maximum extent permitted by law, none of the Company’s Directors, employees, advisors or agents, nor any other person, accepts any liability for any loss arising from the use of the information contained in this announcement. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement. The forward- looking statements in this announcement reflect views held only as at the date of this announcement.
This announcement is not an offer, invitation or recommendation to subscribe for, or purchase securities by the Company. Nor does this announcement constitute investment or financial product advice (nor tax, accounting or legal advice) and is not intended to be used for the basis of making an investment decision. Investors should obtain their own advice before making any investment decision.
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from Black Earth, 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.
Altech Batteries
Investor Insight
An innovative technology that promises positive economics places Altech Batteries in a compelling position to take advantage of a booming batteries market driven by global electrification and clean energy transition.
Overview
Altech Batteries (ASX:ATC,FRA:A3Y) is a battery technology company focused on commercialising the revolutionary CERENERGY® Sodium-Chloride Solid State (SCSS) Battery, destined for the renewable energy grid storage market. The SCSS Battery does not require lithium, cobalt, copper, graphite or manganese, bypassing these high-demand and expensive minerals, and leverages a novel sodium-chloride (common table salt) technology to produce a more durable and longer-lasting battery. This new battery uses cheaper and readily available sodium rather than the more scarce, costly and risky lithium. Altech is headed by an experienced team who understands what it takes to bring transformative technology to market.
That's not all Altech has going for it, either. Unlike other energy storage options, the company's new SCSS Battery technology promises to solve many issues associated with traditional lithium batteries, including fire and explosion risks, manufacturing costs, operating temperature ranges and lifespans.
The reality is simple: Lithium-ion batteries have been susceptible to fire and explosions and have even malfunctioned in certain temperatures – all critical issues that must be solved to ensure long-term sustainability.
CERENERGY® batteries solve these challenges. For example, they do not contain any volatile flammable electrolytes or plastic separators, and they use solid-state ceramic tubes. Simply put, the thermal runaway problem that's plaguing lithium-ion batteries is not possible with Altech's new battery technology.
Altech has a joint venture agreement with the German government battery institute Fraunhofer IKTS, which has been developing the CERENERGY® battery over the past eight years and invested over €35 million (~US$39.7 million) in research and development. Altech is commercialising the technology by providing expertise and resources to build a new 120-MWh-per-annum plant in Saxony, Germany, on Altech's land.
In 2024, the pilot line at Fraunhofer IKTS in Hermsdorf, Germany underwent a comprehensive redesign to facilitate the manufacturing of two ABS60 60 kWh battery prototypes. Innovative tools and machinery have been developed and implemented specifically for producing the battery cells required for the 60 kWh prototypes. The first ABS60 battery prototype is now online and operating successfully, passing all physical tests with great results.
As of April 2025, rigorous individual cell stress-testing conducted by Fraunhofer IKTS has confirmed the safety and operational robustness of the CERENERGY® technology under extreme conditions, including over-discharge, overcharge, high C-rates and elevated temperatures of up to 400°C.
Altech Batteries also released the results from a definitive feasibility study (DFS) conducted for the CERENERGY® project with an annual capacity of 120 MWh GridPacks. DFS showed a capital cost estimated at €156 million (US$170.15 million) with excellent project economics.
The CERENERGY® project is being developed by Altech Batteries GmbH (ABG) with 75 percent interest and joint venture partner Fraunhofer IKTS with 25 percent interest. ABG is 75 percent owned by Altech Batteries and Altech Advanced Materials AG (FSE).
Altech Batteries has executed several offtake agreements in 2024:
- Zweckverband Industriepark Schwarze Pumpe will purchase 30 MWh of energy storage capacity annually, consisting of 1 MWh GridPacks, for the first five years of production.
- Referenzkraftwerk Lausitz GmbH (RefLau), a joint venture between utility companies Enertrag SE and Energiequelle GmbH. RefLau will purchase 30 MWh of CERENERGY® energy storage capacity in the first year, then 32 MWh per year thereafter for the next four years of production. It was further agreed that Altech will purchase green electricity at competitive prices directly from the partners in the region for the planned production plant.
- Axsol GmbH (Axsol) is a leading, award-winning integrated renewable energy solutions provider. Altech has entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with Axsol to supply the western defence industry with CERENERGY® battery technology.
To address funding requirements, the company has executed a binding Bond Note Subscription Deed with major shareholder Deutsche Balaton AG, under which it candraw down up to €2.5 million (US$2.8 million) in cash in the form of interest-bearing Bearer Bonds. Altech is also in the process of selling its land in Johor to provide additional funding.
Company Highlights
- Altech Batteries is a battery technology company commercialising its revolutionary CERENERGY® Sodium-Chloride Solid State (SCSS) Battery that uses common table salt technology.
- Altech's proprietary technology does not require lithium, cobalt, copper or graphite, eliminating cost, ethical, safety and supply chain issues.
- Compared to lithium-ion batteries, the CERENERGY® battery is fire and explosion-proof, is cheaper to manufacture, suitable in any temperature range (-40°C to +60°C) and provides a greater lifespan (over 15 years).
- Altech has a joint venture agreement with Fraunhofer IKTS, the German Government's Battery Institute that has been developing the SCSS technology for eight years with significant financial investment.
- The joint venture is building a new 120 MWh plant in Saxony, Germany to manufacture the new SCSS 1 MWh GridPack, designed for the lucrative and growing grid storage market.
- Rigorous testing of individual CERENERGY® battery cells has confirmed their safety and operational robustness under extreme conditions, including over-discharge, overcharge, high C-rates, and elevated temperatures.
- Additionally, Altech has successfully made its Silumina Anodes™ pilot plant in Germany operational, designed to improve lithium-ion batteries by providing a higher capacity anode for the EV market. This patented technology involves coating silicon and graphite with high-purity alumina, increasing the capacity of lithium-ion batteries compared to traditional graphite-only anodes.
- Recent breakthroughs in the Silumina Anodes™ technology include spherifying coated silicon particles, which has achieved a 50 percent capacity performance improvement in battery applications compared to traditional graphite-only anodes.
- Through a definitive feasibility study, Altech expanded the Silumina Anodes™ project output eightfold, increasing the capacity from 15 gigawatt-hours (GWh) to 120 GWh.
Key Projects
CERENERGY® Sodium-Chloride Solid State Battery Project
Altech Batteries and Fraunhofer IKTS are currently commercialising the Sodium-Chloride Solid State (SCSS) battery technology, which uses sodium over lithium. It is a solution geared toward the renewable energy grid storage market, an often overlooked but significant market for the transition to renewable energy.
Project Highlights:
- Solves Major Issues with Lithium-Ion Batteries: We've seen challenges with lithium-ion batteries become news stories as these batteries experience thermal runaway or cannot operate outside an ideal temperature range. CERENERGY® battery technology does not use combustible liquid electrolytes and has a significantly improved temperature range of 40 to 60 degrees Celsius.
- Impressive Shelf Life and Operating Life: Unlike lithium-ion batteries, the CERENERGY® battery does not use a liquid electrolyte, meaning it does not deteriorate over time; there is no loss of sodium. CERENERGY® batteries have extended shelf life compared to lithium-ion and an operating lifespan of over 15 years, which also exceeds lithium batteries.
- Pilot Plant and New GridPack Underway: Altech Batteries and Fraunhofer IKTS are now commercialising the technology with a new 120 MWh plant in Saxony. Additionally, Altech recently announced its new 1 MWh GridPack designed for grid storage. The new GridPack is suitable for all weather conditions, has low maintenance costs, and has a long battery life.
- Highly Positive DFS: The DFS excellent economics include:
- Capital cost estimated at €156 million with excellent project economics
- Pre-tax Net Present Value (NPV9) of €169 million
- Attractive Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 19 percent
- Steady state payback period is 3.7 years, with annual revenue of €106 million per annum
- EBITDA of €51 million or margin of around 47 percent
- Altech Board Decision to Proceed to Funding Phase
- Low lifetime levelised cost of storage €0.06/kWh vs lithium-ion batteries at €0.149/kWh
- Grid energy storage market projected to grow by 28 percent CAGR
- Grant funding applications underway
- Equity and mezzanine financing discussions in progress
- Proven Safety Under Extreme Conditions: Recent rigorous testing of individual CERENERGY® cells has confirmed their safety and operational robustness. Tests included:
- Long-term cycling showing consistent performance across the full capacity range
- Over-discharge tests demonstrating exceptional resilience and ability to recover without damage
- Overcharge tests (up to four times higher than nominal voltage for 15 hours) confirming robust safety features
- C-rate flexibility tests validating performance across various charge/discharge rates
- Thermal stability testing at temperatures up to 400°C (50°C above maximum expected operational temperature)
- Cell failure testing showing continuous system operation without significant risk or performance degradation even when individual cells fail
Silumina Anodes™ Project
Altech Batteries has purchased the land in Saxony, Germany, for its 8,000-tpa proprietary Silumina Anodes™ battery materials plant. The plant has a completed pre-feasibility study with outstanding economics. The company strategically selected the plant's location to serve the European battery market. The pilot plant has now been successfully built and is operational.
Project Highlights:
- Plant Designed for Minimal Environmental Impact: The Centre of International Climate and Environmental Research (CICERO), located in Norway, has reviewed the plant's design and awarded it the rating of "Medium Green." This rating indicates that the project achieves 'green' financing.
- Feedstock Supply of Battery-Grade Anode Materials Secured: Altech Batteries has executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two European suppliers of battery-grade materials: SGL Carbon and Ferroglobe.
- Breakthrough in Silumina Anodes™ Technology: Altech's latest development involves spherification of silicon particles coated with nanolayers of alumina. These spherical particles are distributed within the voids of graphite, minimizing long-term damage to the electrode layer caused by expansion.
- Optimized Silicon Content: The company's R&D laboratory has optimized silicon content to a 5 percent addition, which has delivered a 50 percent capacity performance improvement in battery applications.
- Pilot Plant Now Operational: Despite initial technical challenges related to equipment delivery delays and handling difficulties with ultra-fine silicon powders, the pilot plant is now fully operational and producing high-quality coated silicon particles ready for customer evaluation.
Management Team
Luke Frederick Atkins - Non-executive Chairman
Luke Frederick Atkins is a lawyer by profession and one of the founders of the company. Atkins brings to the board extensive experience in the areas of mining, exploration and corporate governance. Atkins is also non-executive director of the successful ASX-listed mining and exploration company, Bauxite Resources (BRL) (now Australian Silica Quartz). Atkins formerly held the role of executive chairman of BRL after co-founding the company in 2007. He has played a key role in BRL third party negotiations to successfully access funding, joint venture partnerships, land and infrastructure. Atkins has had extensive experience in capital raising and has held some executive and non-executive directorships of private and publicly listed companies including several mining and exploration companies.
Iggy Tan - Managing Director
Iggy Tan is a highly experienced mining and chemical executive with several significant achievements in commercial mining projects such as capital raising, funding, construction, start-ups and operations. Tan has over 30 years of chemical and mining experience and has been an executive director of some ASX-listed companies. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern Cross, a Bachelor of Science from the University of Western Australia, and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Tan is responsible for managing and implementing the next stage of Altech's strategic business objectives. Having been involved in the commissioning and start-up of seven resource projects in Australia and overseas, including high-purity technology projects, Tan is an accomplished project builder and developer.
He was the managing director of Nickelore, Galaxy Resources and Kogi Iron. At Galaxy, Tan was responsible for capital raising, construction and start-up of the company's Mt Cattlin spodumene mine ($80 million) and the Jiangsu lithium carbonate plant ($100 million), which resulted in Galaxy becoming the world's leading producer of high-purity lithium carbonate. The Jiangsu plant was eventually sold for $260 million in 2014.
Uwe Ahrens - Alternate Director
Uwe Ahrens is the executive director of Melewar Industrial Group Berhad and managing director of Melewar Integrated Engineering Sdn Bhd. He is also on the board of other private limited companies. Ahrens holds masters in both mechanical engineering and business administration from the Technical University Darmstadt, Germany. Upon graduation, Ahrens joined the international engineering and industrial plant supplier, KOCH Transporttechnik GmbH in Germany, now part of FLSmidth Group, where he held a senior management position for 12 years, working mainly in Germany, the USA and South Africa.
In 1997, Ahrens was the general manager of KOCH in Southeast Asia and became its managing director in 1999. He joined Melewar Group in 2002 and is also currently chief technical officer of the Melewar group of companies responsible for engineering, upgrading, modification and extension of machinery and plant, as well as the overall maintenance.
Martin Stein - Chief Financial Officer & Company Secretary
Martin Stein is a finance and corporate executive with over 20 years of international experience. Stein has been the chief financial officer and company secretary for several ASX-listed companies. In these roles, he was responsible for all aspects of capital raising, financial management, shareholder liaison and corporate governance.
Before this, Stein held senior positions with Anvil Mining as well as with PwC at its London office. Whilst with PwC, he provided corporate services for companies listed on the LSE, NYSE and AIM, including Colgate-Palmolive, Sony, Heinz, DHL Express and Bosch.
E-Power Resources
Investor Insight
With a flagship project in Quebec—one of the world’s top mining jurisdictions—and a seasoned management team, E-Power Resources is well-positioned to strengthen the North American graphite supply chain and deliver strong investment potential.
Overview
E-Power Resources (CSE:EPR) is a battery materials exploration and development company strategically focused on unlocking new graphite resources to meet the accelerating demand driven by electric vehicle (EV) adoption.
Graphite is the dominant material used in the anodes of lithium-ion batteries, making it essential to the EV supply chain. As global EV production scales, demand for battery-grade graphite is expected to outpace current supply, creating a compelling market opportunity. Benchmark Mineral Intelligence is forecasting a 140 percent increase in graphite demand. E-Power is well-positioned to leverage this rapidly expanding market and become a key domestic supplier of this critical mineral.
In addition to its role in batteries, graphite is a foundational material for multiple industrial applications—from foundries to lubricants—further highlighting the importance of securing a reliable, scalable supply.
E-Power Resources offers investors direct exposure to the rapidly expanding battery materials sector, supported by strong market fundamentals, a focus on critical minerals, and a clear path to value creation.
The company’s flagship asset, the Tetepisca Project, spans 12,620 hectares within the emerging Tetepisca Graphite District, poised to become one of North America’s largest sources of graphite. Strategically located approximately 200 kilometers from Innovation et Développement Manicouagan’s (IDM) planned 200,000-ton-per-year battery anode facility in Baie-Comeau, Quebec, E-Power is ideally positioned to supply high-quality graphite to this major downstream user. The proximity to Baie-Comeau also provides direct access to maritime shipping routes, facilitating efficient transport to European and North American battery manufacturing hubs.
E-Power is led by an experienced management team with deep expertise in geology, corporate finance, and capital markets within the mining sector. The team is committed to advancing the Tetepisca Project and establishing E-Power Resources as a key North American supplier of graphite, a critical material in the global energy transition.Company Highlights
- E-Power Resources is a Quebec-based exploration and development company focusing on graphite assets to strengthen the North American industrial supply chain.
- The company’s flagship Tetepisca project is the largest land package within one of North America’s largest and highest-grade graphite districts and is in proximity to a planned battery anode factory that will require an ongoing supply of graphite.
- The graphite market is expected to grow exponentially as demand increases alongside battery 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 Tetepisca Graphite Project comprises 230 claims totaling 12,620 hectares in the emerging mining-friendly jurisdiction of the Tetepisca Graphite District in Québec. The project is strategically located approximately 215 kilometers from Innovation et Développement Manicouagan’s planned 200,000-ton-per-year battery anode manufacturing facility in Baie-Comeau, providing potential for future supply agreements. Baie-Comeau also offers port facilities with maritime links to European and North American battery production markets.
2024 Exploration Program Highlights
- High-Grade Discoveries: The 2024 exploration program identified five priority target areas characterized by numerous samples exceeding 5 percent graphitic carbon (Cg), with high-grade samples surpassing 20 percent Cg. Notably, a grab sample returned 28.7 percent Cg from the N5 target area .
- Promising Geology: The project area is underlain by high-grade metamorphic rocks of the Nault Formation, known to host significant flake graphite resources.
- Concentrate Grades: Preliminary metallurgical testwork achieved concentrate grades of 96.4 percent and 96.5 percent Cg from two advanced exploration targets, indicating the potential for high-quality graphite production.
Management Team
James Cross – President and Chief Executive Officer
James Cross is a seasoned management consultant with international capital markets experience across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia. From 2012 to 2017, he served as President and CEO of Canadian Gold Resources, which was acquired by Colibri Resources (TSXV:CBI) in a $4 million share transaction. He has also held leadership roles with Adroit Resources and advised numerous resource companies. Cross holds a B.Sc. in Management from Tulane University’s A.B. Freeman School of Business.
Jamie Lavigne – Vice President of Exploration and Director
Jamie Lavigne is a professional economic geologist with over 30 years of experience in exploration and mine development. He has worked with major Canadian and Australian mining companies and several junior explorers and operates his own consulting firm. Lavigne holds a B.Sc. from Memorial University and an MSc. from the University of Ottawa. He is a member of L’Ordre des Géologues du Québec and the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists.
Paul Haber – Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary
Paul Haber brings over 20 years of experience in corporate finance and capital markets. He has served as CFO, board member, and audit chair for numerous public and private companies, including XTM (CSE:PAID), South American Silver (TSX:SAC), and Migao Corporation (TSX:MGO). A CPA and CA, Haber began his career at Coopers & Lybrand and holds an Honours B.A. in Management from the University of Toronto. He also holds a Chartered Director designation from the DeGroote School of Business and the Conference Board of Canada.
