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International Graphite (ASX: IG6) has received works approval from the Western Australian Government to install new graphite micronising equipment at the Company’s downstream research and development facility in Collie, Western Australia.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Construction works approval received from the Western Australian Department of Water and Environmental Regulation
- Enables installation of a new micronising qualification plant and associated infrastructure to proceed
- Significantly expands International Graphite’s downstream graphite R&D Facility at Collie
- Equipment due for delivery in September 2023 and expected to be operational by late 2023
- Micronised graphite products have an established primary market and are a by-product of the battery anode material production process
The equipment is currently in transit from North America and is expected to arrive at Fremantle Port next month (September 2023).
The custom-built ”qualification-scale” plant is a significant advancement on the Company’s pilot processing plant, the first of its kind in Australia, which was commissioned in September 20221.
The new qualification plant is designed to process graphite concentrates to produce a commercial micronised graphite product for quality and performance evaluation by potential customers. Capable of producing 100tpa to 200tpa of micronised graphite, the plant will also be used to develop graphite operating and materials handling expertise within the Company.
In March 2023, the Company released a definitive feasibility study2 for a commercial micronising facility with throughput of up to 4,000tpa.
Managing Director and CEO Andrew Worland said a micronising operation would progress International Graphite’s plans to be the first mine-to-market producer in Western Australia of graphite battery anode materials (BAM) for the growing lithium-ion battery market.
“Micronised graphite is a by-product of the micronising and spheroidising process used in the production of BAM and contributes to the economics of BAM production,” he said.
“A commercial scale micronising facility would help establish markets for future micronised by-products that would be produced from our planned Collie Graphite BAM Facility3 which
would treat graphite concentrates produced from our 100% owned Springdale Graphite Project, near Hopetoun in Western Australia.”
The new qualification plant will also be available to progress testwork on graphite concentrates from Springdale and will assist with research and development and market qualification of the Springdale graphite material.
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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 also 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).
In addition, the Western Australian government has further earmarked AU$4 million from the Investment Attraction Fund's New Energies Industries Funding Stream to support the progression of the Springdale graphite project and the development of the Collie Processing Facility.
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 test work 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.
Australian battery graphite from mine-to-market
NextSource Materials
Investor Insight
NextSource Materials is an emerging leader in the global battery materials sector, backed by a world-class graphite resource and proven technology to produce high-performance anode material. With a focus on full vertical integration, the company is strategically positioned to supply critical materials essential to the global clean energy transition.
Overview
NextSource Materials (TSX:NEXT,OTCQB:NSRCF) is a Canadian-based battery materials development company focused on becoming a vertically integrated global supplier of critical minerals essential to the global clean energy transition. The company’s strategy spans the full value chain – from mining and upgrading high-quality flake graphite to producing advanced battery anode materials – positioning it as a key supplier to the rapidly growing electric vehicle (EV) and renewable energy storage markets.
NextSource’s core asset is the Molo graphite mine in Madagascar, one of the largest and highest-grade flake graphite deposits in the world. Commencing production in October 2024, the Molo mine has a resource base of more than 153 million tonnes and the exclusive source of NextSource’s trademarked SuperFlake® graphite.
Complementing the Molo graphite mine is the company’s downstream expansion through battery anode facilities (BAFs), which will convert its proprietary SuperFlake® graphite into spherical purified graphite (SPG) and coated SPG (CSPG), enabling direct supply to global battery and automotive manufacturers outside traditional Asian supply chains.
Global demand for flake graphite, valued at US$3.12 billion in 2024, is forecast to grow to US$5.48 billion by 2034, driven by a 6.1 percent CAGR. This growth is primarily fueled by the expansion of lithium-ion battery manufacturing for EVs and renewable energy systems, where graphite remains the dominant material used in battery anodes.
NextSource also owns the Green Giant vanadium project, an advanced-stage and strategically significant vanadium asset located near the Molo mine. With a large, sediment-hosted deposit suited for vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs), Green Giant provides additional exposure to the grid-scale energy storage market – a rapidly emerging segment of the clean energy landscape.
NextSource has assembled an impressive leadership team with a proven track record in mine operations and building shareholder value. With long-term offtake agreements in place, a scalable mine-to-anode business model, and strategic backing from Vision Blue Resources, led by former Xstrata CEO Sir Mick Davis, NextSource is positioned to deliver significant value as a secure and sustainable supplier of critical battery materials.
Company Highlights
- Molo Graphite Project: The Molo graphite project in Madagascar is among the world’s largest and highest-quality graphite resources and is the exclusive source of SuperFlake® graphite.
- First Commercial Shipments Completed: SuperFlake® shipments have been to multiple end-users and approved for high-demand applications for flake graphite, including battery anodes, refractory and graphite foils for fire retardants and consumer electronics.
- Long-term Offtake Agreements: One of the few graphite producers globally to secure long-term sales agreements with tier one partners, including a 20,000 tpa agreement with a leading Japanese trader that supplies intermediate anode material to the Japanese market, and a 35,000 tpa agreement with thyssenkrupp Materials Trading GmbH for SuperFlake® graphite concentrate.
- Mine Expansion Planned: With anticipated volume demands expected to quickly outgrow its Phase 1 volume capacity, NextSource updated its operational strategy to utilize Phase 1 for campaign production to focus on development of its Phase 2 mine expansion.
- Downstream Value-add Expansion: The company is executing a phased rollout of battery anode facilities to produce spherical purified graphite and coated SPG at commercial scale. These facilities will supply high-performance anode material directly to battery and automotive manufacturers outside traditional Asian supply chains.
- Strategic Shareholder Support: Vision Blue Resources, a battery materials investment fund led by former Xstrata CEO Sir Mick Davis, is NextSource’s corner-stone shareholder. Sir Mick Davis also serves as NextSource’s chairman, bringing decades of mine development and operational leadership to the company.
- Vanadium Exposure: NextSource also holds the Green Giant vanadium project in Madagascar, an advanced-stage NI 43-101 resource and one of the world’s largest known sedimentary vanadium (V2O5) deposits.
Key Projects
Molo Graphite Mine and Project
NextSource’s flagship Molo graphite project ranks as one of the largest-known and highest-quality flake graphite deposits in the world. The property spans more than 62.5 hectares, sits in the Tulear region of Southwestern Madagascar, and is located 11.5 kilometers east of the town of Fotadrevo. Phase 1 of the mine is currently in operation.
NextSource has superior flake size distribution and well above the global average. The Molo asset is relatively unique for having almost 50 percent premium-priced large and jumbo flake graphite and can achieve up to 97 percent carbon purity with simple flotation alone. Molo SuperFlake® has been verified by end-users and meets or exceeds all criteria for the top demand markets for flake graphite; anode material for lithium-ion batteries, refractories, graphite foils and graphene inks.
Project Highlights
Geological and Resource Overview:
- Measured and indicated resources: 100.37 million tonnes (Mt) at 6.3 percent total graphitic carbon (C), based on a 2 percent C cut-off.
- Proven and probable reserves: 53.75 Mt at 6.2 percent C, based on a 3 percent C cut-off, including 21.33 Mt proven and 32.41 Mt probable.
- Over 300 km of continuous surface graphite mineralization has been delineated, enabling flexible, demand-driven production scale-up.
- The resource base supports more than 100 years of mine life at 17,000 tpa and 25+ years at 150,000 tpa production levels.
Operational Status:
- Phase 1 operations commenced production in October 2024, with the first commercial shipments of SuperFlake® graphite concentrate delivered to customers in Germany and the US in early 2025.
- In May 2025, NextSource transitioned Phase 1 to campaign production in order to preserve capital and prioritize the larger Phase 2 expansion, which is now the operational focus.
- Nameplate capacity for Phase 1 is 17,000 tpa, with modular Phase 2 plans targeting up to 150,000 tpa production capacity.
Strategic Sales Agreements:
- A 35,000 tpa SuperFlake® graphite offtake agreement with thyssenkrupp Materials Trading GmbH.
- A 20,000 tpa agreement with a leading Japanese trader that supplies anode material to major OEM supply chains (Tesla, Toyota).
Battery Anode Facilities
NextSource’s BAFs are value-added processing plants designed to convert smaller flake graphite into high-performance anode material, an essential component of lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles.
Project Highlights
Technology and Product Focus:
- Using a proprietary and proven processing technology, licensed exclusively by NextSource and currently supplying major OEMs, the BAFs will produce spherical purified graphite (SPG) and coated SPG (CSPG) through a process verified within, and currently being used by, the Tesla and Toyota supply chains.
- The CSPG production process involves micronizing flake graphite, shaping it into spheres (spheroidization), purifying it and applying a hard carbon coating to enhance durability and performance in battery applications.
Pilot to Commercial Progression:
- A pilot BAF in Mauritius successfully validated NextSource’s processing technology and facilitated advanced product qualification with Tier 1 EV and battery manufacturers.
- In 2025, the company redirected its BAF expansion focus from Mauritius to the Middle East, identifying Saudi Arabia and the UAE as ideal first locations due to favorable permitting, infrastructure, and access to global EV markets.
Strategic Plans and Economic Advantages:
- NextSource’s established technical process gives it a competitive advantage by significantly reducing the time and cost required for R&D and qualification phases.
- The modular BAF rollout strategy supports flexible scaling, with additional facilities planned for North America, Europe, and Asia to meet growing OEM demand.
- Feedstock will be sourced primarily from the Molo Mine, with provisions for qualified third-party graphite as needed.
Green Giant Vanadium Project
The Green Giant vanadium project is a 100-percent-owned, advanced-stage exploration asset located in south-central Madagascar, approximately 15 kilometers from the Molo Graphite Mine. It is one of the world’s largest known vanadium deposits and a potential future growth driver for NextSource.
Project Highlights
Resource Profile:
- NI 43-101 compliant resource of approximately 60 million tonnes, grading an average of 0.7 percent vanadium pentoxide at a 0.5 percent cut-off.
- The deposit is sediment-hosted, a rare geological profile seen in only about 5% of vanadium occurrences, and favorable for producing high-purity vanadium compounds.
Strategic Importance:
- Vanadium is a key material in vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs), which are emerging as a critical solution for long-duration grid-scale energy storage—a necessary component of the transition to renewable power.
- With increasing global focus on decarbonizing power systems, Green Giant provides long-term optionality in a growing adjacent market.
Development Status:
- Over US$20 million has been invested in exploration and development since acquisition in 2007.
- While currently on hold to maintain focus on graphite and anode material commercialization, the project remains a strategic asset for future energy storage market expansion.
Management Team
Hanré Rossouw - President and Chief Executive Officer, Director
Hanré Rossouw joins NextSource from his role as executive director and chief financial officer of Sasol Limited with extensive experience in the global natural resources industry over the last 25 years. A British and South African national, Rossouw has held senior positions in leading global mining and investment companies where his roles involved business development, M&A, capital markets, asset management and growth optimization.
Craig Scherba - Chief Development Officer, Director
Craig Scherba brings extensive operational and geologic experience, having discovered both the Molo and Green Giant deposits. He currently heads up development of NextSource’s downstream OEM offtake strategy and plans.
Jaco Crouse - Chief Financial Officer
Jaco Crouse brings over 20 years of experience in the global natural resources sector, with expertise in M&A, capital markets and financial strategy. He held senior positions at Glencore and Xstrata.
Brent Nykoliation - EVP, Strategy and Corporate Affairs
Brent Nykoliation joined the senior management team at NextSource Materials as vice-president in 2007 and leads strategy and corporate affairs for the company. In addition, he oversees all communications with graphite customers, institutional investors and analysts for the company.
He brings over 20 years of senior management experience, having held marketing and strategic development positions with several Fortune 500 corporations in Canada.
Dr. Tilo Hauke - EVP, Downstream Operations
Dr. Tilo Hauke leads the development of the company’s BAFs, focused on producing commercial-scale graphite anode material for lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles. He previously spent two decades at SGL Carbon SE, a global leader in carbon and graphite products, holding senior roles including SVP of Fuel Cell Components and Group VP of Technology and Innovation.
Danniel Stokes - VP, Special Projects
Daniel Stokes spearheads the project management aspects of the company, with significant experience across a diverse portfolio of projects in mining, infrastructure and nuclear industries.
Markus Reichardt - VP, Sustainability
Markus Reichardt is responsible for driving the company’s safety, health, environment, social, climate change and quality performance and initiatives. He has a 25-year track record in operational, senior corporate and advisory roles in the resources, agricultural and renewables sectors across the developing world.
Jean Luc Marquetoux - Country Manager
Jean Luc Marquetoux brings nearly three decades of experience in mining and project development in Madagascar and brings deep regional and governmental expertise in Madagascar.
Board of Directors
Sir Mick Davis - Chairman
Sir Mick Davis is the CEO of Vision Blue Resources and a highly successful mining executive accredited with building Xstrata plc into one of the largest mining companies in the world before its acquisition by Glencore plc.
Ian Pearce – Director
Ian Pearce is the former CEO of Xstrata Nickel, and was the former COO of Falconbridge Limited, which was acquired by Xstrata Plc in 2006. Xstrata Plc’s acquisition of Falconbridge was one of the largest mining takeovers globally and one of the largest takeover bids in Canadian history.
Brett Whalen — Director
Brett Whalen has over 20 years of investment banking and M&A expertise, spending over 16 of those years at Dundee Corporation. During his tenure at Dundee, Whalen was directly involved in completing approximately $2 billion in M&A deals and helped raise over $10 billion in capital for resource sector companies.
Christopher Kruba - Director
Christopher Kruba is vice-president and legal counsel to Nostrum Capital Corporation and several related corporations that are part of the Toldo Group.
Martina Buchhauser - Director
Martina Buchhauser is a globally recognized leader in the automotive industry, with deep expertise in sustainable mobility and the transition to low-carbon, responsible business practices. Her executive career includes senior roles in global procurement and supply chain management at General Motors, MAN, BMW, and most recently Volvo Cars.
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