Northern Graphite aims to ship Okanjande’s graphite concentrate to France by 2027, feeding a Battery Anode Material (BAM) facility that will start at 20,000 tonnes per year and is scalable to 50,000 tonnes.
The raw graphite mined and partially processed in Namibia is then refined, purified, and coated in France, with battery testing conducted in Germany.
CEO Hugues Jacquemin calls this strategy a game-changer, following the project’s award of “Strategic Project” status under the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA).
This designation fast-tracks permitting, improves funding access, and helps secure offtake deals with European battery makers eager for stable, low-risk supply.
The recognition also revives Okanjande itself. The mine has been on care and maintenance since late 2023. Restarting operations to supply Europe by 2027 is now central to Northern Graphite’s strategy, which aligns with Namibia’s push to add value locally rather than simply export raw ore. The company plans to conduct initial beneficiation on-site before shipping the concentrate through Walvis Bay, helping Namibia capture more value and support local jobs.
Jacquemin says Northern Graphite is no longer just a miner but a battery technology company. Over the past year, the firm formed its Battery Materials Group, secured a state-of-the-art lab in Frankfurt, hired battery PhDs, and developed patents for carbon processing in lithium-ion and solid-state batteries. By licensing these technologies, they aim to raise capital to support their integrated supply chain without diluting their shareholders’ interests.
Financing remains a challenge. Earlier this year, Northern Graphite warned it might need to idle its flagship Lac des Iles mine in Canada without new funding. While that risk remains under challenging markets, Jacquemin says the outlook is improving. Industrial demand has stayed strong despite price increases, with record average prices in the first quarter of 2025.
Northern Graphite is exploring royalty deals, streaming agreements, debt financing, and strategic partnerships to support its growth. It is also advancing plans for a BAM facility in Baie-Comeau, Québec, in collaboration with The BMI Group, which will repurpose a former paper mill site.
Geopolitics is a central factor. In the U.S., the government has imposed tariffs of up to 721% on Chinese graphite anode materials, with further anti-dumping decisions expected. Northern Graphite is lobbying in Washington for supportive policies. In Canada, critical minerals have become a centrepiece of economic strategy, with government support for domestic production.
Jacquemin described a recent visit by Québec’s Minister of Natural Resources and Forests, who toured Lac des Iles and met with staff, as an example of the government engagement needed to restore investor confidence.
He acknowledged investor frustration with the company’s share price, citing not only internal financial pressures but also a wider lack of confidence in the critical minerals market. Yet he insisted Northern Graphite is executing a clear, long-term plan, transforming from a traditional miner into an integrated supplier that can support global battery demand sustainably.
“We’re confident that Northern Graphite will play a key role in the future of sustainable battery materials,” Jacquemin concluded.
