Name of the Project
Expandable graphite plant.

Location
Special economic zone in Pune, India.

Project Owner/s
Panthera Graphite Technologies, a 50:50 joint venture between Blackearth Minerals and Metachem Manufacturing.

Project Description
Expandable graphite, along with lithium-ion bat­teries, is one of the fastest growing markets.

The plan is to develop a plant that can produce 2 000 t/y to 2 500 t/y of expandable graphite in the initial stages, and then to expand production to between 4 000 t/y to 5 000 t/y from Year 4.

The development of expandable graphite involves treating flake graphite and heating it to cause the flakes to split apart, expand and increase hundreds of times in volume. This material is compressed into sheets to create a foil that can be cut into shapes and be used in many applications, including consumer electronics, high-end gaskets that are heat and corrosion resistant, fire retardants, smart building products, flow batteries and fuel cells.

Graphite concentrate will be sourced from external parties for years 1 to 2 of operations.

The project has a 25-year mine life.

Potential Job Creation
The project will largely employ local labour.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The project has an after-tax net present value of $78-million and an internal rate of return of 571%, with a payback of 1.2 years.

Capital Expenditure
The first stage of the project is expected to entail an investment of $3-million.

Planned Start/End Date
Site development is expected to start in September, with planned completion in early 2023, and trial processing to be undertaken immediately thereafter. The plan is to start the supply of expandable graphite in the second quarter of 2023.

Latest Developments
None stated.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Blackearth Minerals, tel +61 8 6145 0289 or email info@blackearthminerals.com.au.