International Graphite Ltd (ASX:IG6)’s new graphite pilot plant processing facility – one of the first in Australia – was officially opened in Collie on Friday by West Australian Premier Mark McGowan and Minister for Regional Development Alannah MacTiernan.
International Graphite is the only graphite company implementing a complete mine-to-market strategy in WA by developing the Springdale Graphite Project, near Ravensthorpe on the state’s south coast, to supply graphite concentrate to the Collie downstream processing operation.
The Collie operation is a milestone for Australia’s burgeoning battery industry and the company hopes the facility will spearhead the global push for production expansion to meet the escalating demand for raw materials to support the decarbonisation of transport and energy storage.
Proof of concept
The company’s pilot plant successfully produced micronised and spheroidised graphite, providing proof of concept that WA has the capacity to become a global producer of graphite material for battery anodes.
More than 30 local suppliers have been involved in setting up the new facility, which houses pilot-scale graphite micronising and spheroidising equipment.
On November 24, the company announced the purchase of larger equipment to take the operation to the next level and produce product for qualification with potential international customers.
The Collie facility is also setting up a research laboratory incorporating an ultra-high temperature furnace that will be used to develop a thermal graphite purification process.
Downstream graphite processing
Executive chairman Phil Hearse said: “This new facility is proof that International Graphite is well on its way to establishing commercial downstream graphite processing facilities in Collie.
“By 2024 we expect to be completing construction and commissioning of a commercial scale graphite processing plant here in Collie.
“By 2025, we expect to have developed a fully integrated battery anode project with feedstock coming from our planned graphite mine at Springdale, near Hopetoun, on WA’s south coast.
“Batteries are critical to the success of global decarbonisation and we are proud to be helping Australia build its sovereign capability and achieve the full value of both its engineering expertise and natural graphite resources.
“International Graphite has the technical expertise to implement our vision and we are grateful for the support and assistance we have received from both the WA Government and Collie community.”
State government contribution
The WA State Government has contributed $2 million, through the Collie Futures Industry Development Fund, to help establish commercial-scale graphite micronising operations at Collie.
Purified micronised graphite is used as a conductive additive to battery cathodes and other industrial applications as well as being an essential step in the production of purified spheroidised graphite for battery anodes.
WA Minister for Regional Development Alannah MacTiernan said: “The opening of International Graphite’s new processing facility is a big win for Collie's Just Transition Plan – an effort to attract new 21st century industries to the region as we decarbonise our economy.
"International Graphite selected Collie as a strategic location for the new processing and manufacturing plant, based on existing regional industries and infrastructure, a skilled local workforce, and an ability to access overseas markets.
“It is exciting to see new industries taking shape in Collie, that are building the foundations for future jobs.”
Importance of graphite
Graphite is a critical mineral that is essential for producing the anodes in lithium-ion batteries.
It takes up to 10 times more graphite than lithium to make a battery. Global supply shortages are expected over the next decade as the world scrambles to reach net-zero using green technologies such as electric vehicles and renewable energy storage.