Name of the Project
Vidalia graphite processing facility expansion.

Location
Vidalia, Louisiana, in the US.

Project Owner/s
Syrah Technologies.

Project Description
The project  will add 16 722 m² of building and processing space to its existing 4 645 m² facility, enough to install equipment and systems for processing natural graphite into active anode material (AAM) used in lithium-ion batteries for the electric vehicle industry.

The expansion announcement comes on the heels of an offtake agreement with Tesla in December 2021 to supply natural graphite AAM for use in batteries.

The Vidalia expansion will allow for the production of an estimated 11 250 t/y of AAM.

Potential Job Creation
Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in 52 indirect jobs, for a total of 88 new jobs in Louisiana’s Central Region. 

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
$176-million.

Planned Start/End Date
Syrah Resources expects construction on the AAM facility expansion to begin in the first quarter of 2022. Construction is scheduled to be completed in mid-2023, with AAM production starting in the third quarter of 2023.

Latest Developments
Syrah Resources has awarded contractor Worley Group a construction management services contract for the Vidalia initial expansion project.

Syrah took a final investment decision on the expansion of its Vidalia AAM facility, in early February.

Syrah has said that, to preserve the project schedule and ensure that the company is prepared to transition to early site-preparation work for the expansion, Worley and Syrah have been advancing initial preconstruction activities since August 2021.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Worley Group (construction management services contract – Vidalia initial expansion project).

Contact Details for Project Information
Syrah Resources, tel +61 3 9670 7264 or email enquiries@syrahresources.com.au.