Northern Graphite Plans to Double its Production i
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Canadian graphite producer Northern Graphite has revealed plans to double its output at the Lac des Iles production plant in Quebec to meet increased demand for graphite outside of the Chinese supply chain. Graphite plays a critical role in electric vehicle battery development and its demand is poised to surge over the next few decades as automakers across the globe ramp up electric vehicle production.
However, with China producing or processing the majority of the world’s EV battery metals, Western lawmakers are keen on sourcing these materials from alternative markets. Additionally, China is limiting the export of critical minerals like graphite to other nations, creating a potentially massive supply deficit. This is where Northern Graphite, the only graphite producer on the continent, comes in.
The miner will ramp up graphite production and double its output to meet the growing demand for non-Chinese graphite. Starting November 2nd, Northern Graphite will shut down for two months to increase its production capacity from around 10,000 to 15,000 tons annually to 25,000, the Canadian miner says.
A press release from CEO Hugues Jacquemin said that the miner would go through the ‘maintenance and repair shutdown’ to increase and stabilize its output and ensure it can keep up with the rising demand for graphite.
Jacquemin noted that the Lac des Iles plant can produce more graphite for a longer timeframe than Northern Graphite first projected when it purchased the mine in 2022. As such, the miner is preparing to dig a new pit and increase the mill’s throughput. Northern Graphite will supply its customers from third parties and inventories while it is closed for upgrades.
The closure will last until early next year, with the opening slated for January 6th. Northern Graphite acquired the plant over two years ago and started operating it 7 days a week in April, boosting its production output by 59%. It plans to open a new pit at the Lac-des-Iles mine by early next year and extend its life by another 8 years.
A resource estimate states that the mine has an indicated 3 million tons of 6.4% graphitic carbon (Cg) with around 213,000 tons of graphitic carbon and 1.4 million inferred tons with an average of 7.6% graphitic carbon. Northern Graphite is looking to take advantage of these reserves to double its graphite output and capture a large share of the battery metal customers seeking supplies outside of China.
The miner has also partnered with Rain Carbon, a chemical producer based in Hamilton, Ontario, to work on the development and commercialization of advanced anode material for batteries.
As Northern Graphite looks to ramp up its graphite production, other companies like Reflex Advanced Materials Corp. (CSE: RFLX) (OTCQB: RFLXF) are also making headway in finding and developing other commercially-viable graphite mines in the U.S.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Reflex Advanced Materials Corp. (CSE: RFLX) (OTCQB: RFLXF) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/RFLXF
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