With electric vehicle demand only accelerating, the world needs to get its hands on far more graphite -- an essential ingredient in electric vehicle anodes. In fact, according to MarketPlace.org, “Even though they’re called lithium cells, that metal only accounts for 4% of the mineral demand in EV batteries. Graphite makes up more than half, and we’re not really mining any at home.” China is responsible for much of the world’s battery grade graphite, and furthermore it’s synthetic, with significant energy and emissions required in production. That’s creating big opportunity for graphite companies, such as Ceylon Graphite (TSX: CYL) (OTC: CYLYF), Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA), Nouveau Monde (TSXV: NOU) (NYSE: NMG), Mason Graphite Inc. (TSXV: LLG) (OTCQX: MGPHF), and Syrah Resources (OTC: SYAAF).
Look at Ceylon Graphite (TSX: CYL) OTC: CYLYF) for example.
Ceylon Graphite completed the world’s first full cell testing using spherodized vein graphite materials in commercial size pouch cells following automotive “Original Equipment Manufacturer” (OEM) standards. Ceylon Graphite’s vein graphite anode material exceeded comparable anodes made with industry standard commercial synthetic graphite and were able to achieve excellent reproducibility in the tests carried out from 2021 through to 2023. This is the first time that spherodized vein graphite materials were tested in a lithium-ion battery full cell.
The tests were conducted at a leading global, independent test facility, Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), part of University of Warwick’s Energy Innovation Centre.
A summary of the test results, completed in February 2023 is highlighted below.
- Repetitive testing of Ceylon Graphite’s unique natural vein graphite material has achieved reproducible outstanding performance results compared to industry standard synthetic graphite:
-Discharge capacity of 161 mAh/g, as compared to the published industry standard of 153 mAh/g
- Small loss in capacity over 120 cycles
- We believe that the impressive performance of our vein graphite material is due to:
- High crystallinity of vein graphite originated highest C% in nature (above 90%)
- In-house purification technology (pending patent) without using any HF (Hydro fluoric) acids
- Ceylon Graphite proprietary spherodizing and formulation technology
- Ceylon Graphite has a mine to battery strategy that will maximize the value of our high-grade Sri Lankan vein graphite by transforming it into anode graphite for the rapidly growing lithium-ion battery market.
- These results provide us the opportunity to:
- Collaborate with potential customers looking for sustainable high-quality anode materials
- Position Ceylon Graphite in the Li-Anode graphite market and achieve potential near term sales
Our latest results for the Full Cells: The cells were tested in a full cell system at a rate of C/5, meaning 5 hours to charge and 5 hours to discharge. Extended cycling exhibited reversible charge/discharge behaviour with less than 15% overall capacity loss over 120 cycles.
Other related developments from around the markets include:
Tesla will create up to 6,000 jobs at its first Mexican automotive factory and is considering producing batteries in the center of the country as it eyes further investment, as noted by Reuters. Mexico's government said on Tuesday Tesla had chosen the northern state of Nuevo Leon for a first Mexican factory worth more than $5 billion. "(Musk) is interested in investing more in Mexico," Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said, noting the two had discussed the government's plans to develop the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in southern Mexico when they talked recently.
Nouveau Monde filed the preliminary economic assessment for the Uatnan mining project located in Québec, Canada, with the securities commissions and regulatory authorities in Canada and the U.S. The PEA, conducted by engineering firms BBA Inc. and GoldMinds Geoservices Inc. according to National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”), was carried out in collaboration with Mason Graphite Inc. (“Mason Graphite”) (TSX.V: LLG, OTCQX: MGPHF) as the Uatnan Mining Project leverages the Lac Guéret deposit wholly-owned by Mason Graphite and subject to an investment agreement and option and joint venture agreement with NMG. The PEA shows strong economics for NMG’s updated operational parameters and production volumes targeting the production of approximately 500,000 tonnes of graphite concentrate per annum over a 24-year life of mine (“LOM”). The proposed Uatnan Mining Project is currently one of the largest projected natural graphite productions being developed in the world. Consistent with NMG’s vertical integration strategy, the Uatnan Mining Project’s contemplated production would serve as feedstock for battery materials advanced manufacturing, providing refining expansion opportunity, increasing potential margins, and enhancing the Company’s growth profile.
Mason Graphite Inc. in collaboration with Nouveau Monde Graphite released the results of a preliminary economic assessment, according to National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, for a new project covering Mason Graphite’s Lac Guéret graphite deposit, the Uatnan mining project located in Québec, Canada. The PEA, conducted by engineering firms BBA Inc. and GoldMinds Geoservices Inc., shows strong economics for NMG’s updated operational parameters and production volumes targeting the production of approximately 500,000 tonnes of graphite concentrate per annum over a 24-year life of mine. The proposed Uatnan Mining Project is currently one of the largest projected natural graphite productions in the world as battery and electric vehicle manufacturers seek local alternatives for sourcing their graphite-based solutions amidst growing demand and a projected structural deficit of production as of this year as supported by Benchmark Mineral Intelligence.
Syrah Resources is restarting operations at its Balama operations in Mozambique, with production and logistics movements recommencing shortly, as noted by The Market Herald. The company announced at the end of September that operations were halted following an interruption by “illegal industrial action by a small contingent of local employees and contractors”. The company subsequently consulted with the relevant Mozambique Government authorities and concluded that the employee strike was instigated by a small group outside of a Company Level Agreement (CLA) negotiation process.
Legal Disclaimer / Except for the historical information presented herein, matters discussed in this article contains forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Winning Media is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority and does not provide nor claims to provide investment advice or recommendations to readers of this release. For making specific investment decisions, readers should seek their own advice. Ceylon Graphite paid three thousand five hundred dollars for advertising and marketing services to be distributed by Winning Media. Winning Media is only compensated for its services in the form of cash-based compensation. Winning Media owns ZERO shares Ceylon Graphite. Please click here for disclaimer.
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