Northern Graphite says China’s decision to control some graphite exports gives the company a competitive advantage.
China announced on 20 October that it will impose the controls beginning 1 December 2023.
Northern Graphite CEO Hugues Jacquemin says his company is well positioned to be a real solution for the entire graphite market value chain as demand for this critical component of Lithium-Ion batteries builds in coming years.
“Northern [Graphite] is the only natural graphite producing company in North America, has multiple development projects, and is well positioned to be a real solution for the entire graphite market value chain as demand for this critical component of Lithium-Ion batteries builds in coming years,” Jacquemin says.
The company operates the Lac des Isles mine in Quebec, Canada and is set to restart the Okanjande mine in Namibia while constructing the Bissett Creek project in Ontario, Canada.
Northern Graphite also plans a 200,000-tonnes-per-year Battery Anode Material facility in Baie-Comeau in Quebec, forecasted to begin supplying battery makers with first-phase production in 2026.
“This news out of China means that even more than before, we are extremely well positioned to service demand for graphite from battery makers in North America.
“We have everything in place. As the only graphite producer in North America, Northern Graphite is clearly in the driver’s seat with a tremendous competitive advantage,” Jacquemin says.
Jacquemin also says it’s time for the government and markets to increase support for the graphite industry if it is ready to support the energy transition.
A statement from Northern Graphite says the company is engaging governments and automakers as it sets up to be the next generation carbon materials company for the energy transition.
Furthermore, the company says it has a sustainable, integrated, mine-to-market-to-battery solution that will be available as US credits on EV batteries produced by the United States and their trading partners come into force through the end of the decade under the US Inflation Reduction Act.
