Hazer Group Ltd (ASX:HZR) has received a further boost as it advances commercialisation of its low-emission hydrogen and graphite production process through acceptance of a second Australian patent application.
The company has also received certification of its first innovation patent covering various aspects of its proprietary Hazer Process.
All other patent applications covering various aspect of the technology remain pending.
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Hazer’s chief executive officer Geoff Ward said: “We are very pleased with the continued progress of our intellectual property strategy and the acceptance of our second Australian patent application and certification of our first Australian innovation patent.”
The company is adopting a multi-prong approach to commercialising the Hazer Process, which enables the effective conversion of natural gas and similar methane feedstocks into hydrogen and high-quality graphite, using iron ore as a process catalyst.
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Australian patent application AU 2016312962 titled ‘A process of controlling the morphology of graphite’ has been accepted by the Australian patent office.
This application will now enter the mandated opposition period.
After expiration of this period, the Deed of Letters Patent will be issued three months from the date of advertisement.
Graphite produced from the Hazer Process.
Innovation patent now enforceable
Australian innovation patent AU 2018101787, ‘A process for producing hydrogen and graphitic carbon from Hydrocarbons’, has been certified.
It is the first of two innovation patents for which the company has applied and now that the patent has been certified, it is enforceable against any potential infringer.
As part of a larger intellectual property strategy, the company said it was pleased that its intellectual property filing and prosecution strategy was delivering granted and enforceable patent rights.
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Remaining patent applications are ongoing and continue to be pursued as per the normal procedures of the various relevant patent organisations.
Ward added: “We are pursuing a rigorous and disciplined strategy to protect Hazer’s IP and will continue to keep shareholders informed as we progress with other patent authorities through the year.”