PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Triple listed EcoGraf has announced plans to scale up its battery anode material (BAM) facility, in Western Australia, following multiple approaches from electric vehicle manufacturers in Europe and North America.
The company’s original plans for the BAM facility would have seen a 5 000 t/y Stage 1 operation, followed by a 20 000 t/y Stage 2 operation. However, this will now be replaced by a single-stage 25 000 t/y development, which is expected to deliver faster ramp-up, construction schedule efficiency, economies of scale and significant market position.
EcoGraf said on Thursday that the simplified commercial development model would be supported by a new Stage 1 product qualification facility, which is targeted to be in operation by mid-2023.
The company told shareholders that it was working with the Western Australian government and with Export Finance Australia and its engineering consultants on the new BAM facility.
Meanwhile, in Tanzania, EcoGraf is finalising its framework agreement for the Epanko project to support the project’s financing process. Furthermore, the company is also recruiting personnel, preparing project development plans for construction and evaluating future Epanko expansion options.
Discussions are also underway with the Tanzanian government for the development of the Merelani-Arusha graphite project and establishment of in-country mechanical shaping facilities to process Epanko and Merelani-Arusha flake graphite into BAM feedstock, using Tanzania’s renewable hydro-power energy and proximity to major markets to optimise EcoGraf’s supply chain efficiency.