International Graphite Ltd (ASX:IG6) has successfully commissioned new pilot-scale micronising and spheroidising equipment at its Collie downstream processing facility in Western Australia, a key step in building its planned fully integrated mine-to-market graphite production stream.
With this first stage of initial production, IG6’s pilot plant becomes the most advanced graphite battery anode material production pilot plant of its kind to be installed and operated in Australia.
The company will now seek vendor pricing to expand micronising equipment to product qualification scale.
"Major step in downstream development"
“This is a major step in developing our operating knowledge and systems in the graphite downstream processing industry, leading to building a team that will understand the operational needs of graphite processing,” International Graphite founder and executive chair Phil Hearse said.
“It gives us further credibility in the global graphite market, provides the opportunity to engage with end-users and shows the industry that we are serious contenders in the development of our vertically integrated graphite business.”
IG6’s pilot plant was designed to accomplish several objectives:
- Demonstrate the company’s ability to produce a high-quality spheroidised graphite product suitable for battery anode material (BAM).
- Support the design and development of a commercial line of micronised graphite product.
- Begin establishing International Graphite’s presence in the graphite marketplace.
- Build operating expertise in graphite product handling and packaging.
- Assist in the development of a process for the purification of graphite concentrates.
Future development of micronising production facilities at Collie will be supported by a $2 million grant from the Western Australian Government as part of the Collie Futures Industry Development Fund award.