Archer Materials Ltd (ASX:AXE) (OTCMKTS:ARRXF) (FRA:38A) has received approval from the South Australian Government for its Program for Environment Protection and Rehabilitation (PEPR) for the Campoona Graphite Project.
Approval of the PEPR is the final step in the approvals process for the activities described in the PEPR and the project is now fully permitted.
The work program described in the PEPR allows for a bulk sample up to 60 tonnes to be collected and for the sample to be processed off-site, including into graphite and graphene materials.
This type of work is suitable for small-scale pilot testing and processing of Archer’s graphite materials in end-uses including lithium-ion batteries.
“Another step forward”
Archer chairman Greg English said: “The approval of the PEPR is a significant achievement and another step forward in the de-risking of the Campoona Graphite Project.
“With the forecast near-term growth in lithium-ion battery demand and forecast increase in graphite prices, the timing of the PEPR approval could not have been better.
“The next steps towards production involve finding a partner or buyer of the Campoona Graphite Project.”
Downstream opportunities
Collection of bulk graphite samples would allow Archer to pursue downstream opportunities with lithium-ion battery manufacturers and end-users so that the Campoona Graphite Project can be developed to return maximum benefit to shareholders and the community.
The company has made significant progress on the development of the project since the granting of a mineral lease in December 2017.
This includes technical studies determining that the graphite at Campoona is structurally near perfect, and the project can also produce graphene.
The project can also be integrated into commercially scalable lithium-ion batteries and can be processed into high-value spherical graphite products.