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Quantum Graphite (ASX:QGL), The Company announces today the second and final phase of the thermal purification results of the test work program conducted by INEMET, ProTherm Systems and Sunlands Power.
This final phase of the program was supervised by the Company’s technical consultants and ALS’ Perth laboratories at Balcatta conducted the elemental analysis following thermal treatment at 2,850°C.
The results confirm within the sensitivity of the test equipment:-
- Uley flake purity of 99.99% graphitic carbon (gC) is achievable from the Sunlands proprietary thermal treatment process
- The direct correlation between predicted impurity element removal (IER) and actual removal of these elements based on the boiling point data for all detectable Uley flake impurities
Table 1: Graphite Purity after Thermal Treatment @ °C
These results have a significant impact on the Company’s Uley 2 Project, i.e.,
- Based on this purity level the current market price for the Company’s Uley 2 products is approximately US$1,5401 per tonne - compared to the basket price used in the 2019 DFS of US$9192
- The Sunlands proprietary process is commercially scalable and can deliver this level of purity in a production environment
- Commercial demand for such purified product confirms the need to increase production levels in the anticipated revision of the Company’s DFS
Commercial Impacts of Results
The results confirm that commercial production of Uley flake at a purity of 99.99% can be achieved utilising the Sunlands proprietary process, free of any chemical processes or processes with adverse environmental effects.
Managing Director, Sal Catalano commented that,
“The results deliver on the Company’s commercial strategy to deliver the leading natural flake products across all applications. From high technology industrial uses to thermal storage products and feed material for Li-ion anode, Uley flake demonstrably delivers a superior product in an environmentally sustainable way”.
As previously announced, the Company is updating its 2019 Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS). As part of this update the Company will revise the DFS basket price to reflect the market price for Uley flake at the 99.99% purity level. Based on the latest available market data, the market price across all Uley products at this purity level is approximately US$1,540 (DFS, US$919). The Company will revise the DFS basket price based on the relevant market price at the time of the release of the update to the DFS.
There is significant market demand, across industrial and battery markets segments, for such purified graphite. This strengthens the market case for the production level to be increased to more than 100,000 tonnes per year.
Head of Asia Pacific Trading for Uley 2 offtaker, MRI Trading AG, Andrew Briscoe said,
“These are very exciting results. The capability to deliver Uley flake of this quality into the market puts MRI in an extraordinary position. We are now placed to market the highest quality flake to some of the most sophisticated customers in Europe and Japan”.
The increase in basket price is anticipated to be achieved with a capital investment of less than 50% of the capital cost disclosed in the DFS. Moreover, the use of the Sunlands thermal energy storage technology provides a pathway for use of renewable energy to produce Uley Green Purified Graphite.
Results in Line with Projections
On 23 March 2023, the Company announced the first phase results of this program. These results confirmed that thermal treatment of Uley flake at a temperature of 2,200°C eliminated all impurities with a boiling point of up to 2,200°C and achieved a purity of 97.59% gC.
Based on the results of this thermal treatment, the Company’s technical team predicted that thermal treatment of Uley flake at temperatures of up to 3,000°C would achieve a purity of approximately 99.86% gC; these projections were based on the most prevalent impurities remaining after the first phase thermal treatment being Sulphur (S), Aluminium (Al), Calcium (Ca), Iron (Fe), and Silicon (Si).
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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.
