Published: August 9, 2023 |

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Graphex Technologies, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Graphex Group Limited, has entered into an offtake agreement with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Syrah Resources Limited for natural flake graphite from Syrah’s Balama graphite operation in Mozambique.

The agreement is another key strategic step forward, providing Graphex with a diverse supply of quality raw materials as the company forges ahead with its plans to bring domestic processing facilities online to supply automakers and battery gigafactories with the needed anode material for electric vehicle (EV) batteries, beginning with initial graphite processing facilities in Michigan, then expanding to support the North American market.

The incentives included in the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) for new EVs with domestically sourced and/or processed components are anticipated to further catapult demand through 2030 when 50 percent of all new car sales are expected to be electric. Critical minerals, like refined graphite, that power EV batteries are key components to the electrification movement, and U.S. government incentives can be accessed when those critical minerals are procured from approved countries and processed domestically. As EV demand continues to expand, the need for natural flake graphite is set to grow exponentially and is expected to reach 4.1 million tons per annum by 2030.

Syrah’s Balama graphite operation is the largest natural graphite operation outside of China, with a production capacity of 350,000 metric tons per year and a multi-generational 50+ year life underpinned by a globally significant high grade natural graphite reserve and resource.

“This agreement with Syrah could change the graphite game in North America. Connecting Syrah’s volume with our proven experience and ongoing build-out of domestic processing capacity in North America represents a giant leap forward in meeting the demand for high-quality, high-volume, IRA-compliant graphite anode material in the EV and renewable energy industries,” said John DeMaio, chief executive officer of Graphex Technologies.

“Securing significant sources of quality raw materials from well-established companies and mine assets such as Syrah and its Balama graphite operation, ensures that Graphex can meet the growing needs of OEMs now and into the future. Whenever you can solve an industry-level problem, everyone wins, including the public,” added DeMaio.

“Graphex is a well-respected mid-stream processor of graphite anode material for Li-ion batteries,” said Shaun Verner, managing director and chief executive officer of Syrah.

“We look forward to working together as part of Graphex’s supply chain to help meet the rapidly growing demand for graphite anode material in North America,” added Verner.

Graphex plans to process the graphite acquired from the Balama graphite operation at the company’s future North American facilities, potentially including its Warren, Michigan facility, which is expected to deliver up to 15,000 metric tons per year of coated purified spherical graphite beginning in 2024, and additional facilities that are planned to be brought online as demand increases.

The agreement with Syrah adds to Graphex’s growing list of planned offtake relationships and potential partnerships, which also includes graphite assets in Canada and Namibia with Northern Graphite, in Australia with Reforme Group, in Brazil and U.S. with SouthStar Battery Metals, in Tanzania and Ukraine with Volt Resources, and in Namibia and Brazil with Gratomic.

Graphex is a multinational technology company focused on the development of technologies and products to enhance renewable energy, particularly the refining of natural spherical graphite, synthetic graphite, and graphene-related products — key components in EVs/Lithium-ion batteries as well as in other uses. Graphex has extensive commercial experience in the deep processing of graphite and producing battery grade graphite anode material. Current production is 10,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) with a current expansion underway to increase production to 30,000 tpa within the next 12 months. Graphex intends to further expand existing operations to 55,000 tpa over the next three years. Graphex is currently among the top suppliers of specialized graphite anode material to the EV and renewable energy industries and holds patents in areas including products, production methods, machinery design, and environmental protection. Graphex’s strategy is to expand its operations globally to support energy transition and electrification efforts worldwide.

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