Kibaran Produces Battery-Grade Graphite Using New Environmentally-Friendly Process

Kibaran Resources (“Kibaran” or the “Company”) (ASX: KNL), is pleased to announce that it has made a major breakthrough in the production of battery-grade graphite at its Epanko Graphite Project (‘Epanko’), establishing the technical and economic success of a new process which eliminates the use of highly toxic chemicals.
The new purification process uses simple acids that are readily available in Tanzania and does not use hydrofluoric (‘HF’) acid, which is currently used by all of producers of battery spherical graphite globally.
HF is a highly toxic and corrosive chemical due to the fluoride ion readily penetrating the skin, causing destruction of deep tissue layers and bone. The eco-friendly production process supports the high environmental standards Kibaran has set for the Epanko, which meets International Finance Corporation (‘IFC’) principles and World Bank Group standards. Kibaran believes an eco-friendly production process for battery-grade graphite will be a key future requirement from anode material and battery producers.
Kibaran Managing Director Andrew Spinks said:

“The new process would assist the Company to secure a large portion of the battery graphite market. It is very clear that growth for battery spherical graphite is increasing at a greater rate than expected. The Company’s feasibility study for production of battery-grade graphite will be revised given the increased demand.”

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