International Graphite Ltd (ASX:IG6) has secured access to a proven processing technology package and commercial licence for its proposed expandable graphite facility in Europe, marking a key step and a “building block” in the project’s feasibility study.
The agreement covers the supply of processing intellectual property to the study and a licence for commercial use, enabling the team to complete plant design and operational planning.
Process testwork has begun on varying graphite concentrate feedstocks. Data generated will guide feedstock selection, process flowsheet development and final product specifications for the facility.
Managing Director and CEO Andrew Worland said securing process IP was “critical to completing the facility design and operations,”.
“The building blocks to successful development are being put into place. Securing the process IP is critical to completing the facility design and operations. Our team and partners are recognised as global industry leaders with deep ties to the European graphite industry and markets,” managing director and CEO, Andrew Worland, said.
“We are seeing enormous opportunities for value added graphite across Europe and North America and our strategy to develop processing operations in tandem with the Springdale Graphite Project in Western Australia offers a point of differentiation for graphite investors from the growing demand in industrial and energy storage markets.”
Site selection: Bitterfeld preferred
Following a steering committee review, the Bitterfeld industrial precinct in Germany has been endorsed as the preferred location.
With a site now identified, International Graphite will focus on site selection due diligence, commercial terms and advancing detailed facility design alongside the process flowsheet definition.
The company reports strong interest from firms within Europe’s graphite supply chain. Feedback from these potential customers is being used to shape product specifications and inform the project’s marketing approach.
Next steps
International Graphite positions the European facility as part of a broader plan to build a western graphite supply chain spanning upstream resources and downstream processing.
The feasibility study is advancing on technology, flowsheet, site and market workstreams; near-term milestones include finalising site terms, refining process design and confirming product specifications based on ongoing testwork.