Collaboration intends to deliver a
strategically located, vertically integrated supply of active anode
material that meets the quality, quantity, and delivery time frames
required by the EV/battery industry in North America and beyond
Graphex Group Limited (NYSE American: GRFX | HKSE: 6128) and its
U.S. subsidiary, Graphex Technologies LLC (collectively “Graphex”),
a global leader in the downstream processing of specialized natural
graphite used in electric vehicle (EV) lithium-ion (Li-ion)
batteries, today announced it has entered into a non-binding Letter
of Intent (“LOI”) with Northern Graphite Corporation (TSXV: NGC)
(OTCQB: NGPH) (FSE: ONG) (XSTU: ONG) (the "Company" or "Northern").
The intent of the LOI is to aggregate Northern’s raw material
supply capabilities with Graphex’s proven downstream processing
expertise to solve an industry wide supply-demand gap by delivering
an end-to-end supply of graphite from mine to battery while
simultaneously on-shoring a critical mineral supply chain to North
America.
Pursuant to the LOI, Graphex and Northern intend to diligently
and in good faith negotiate the terms of a Joint Venture, including
management and ownership percentages, to jointly produce coated
spherical graphite anode material for the EV/battery market.
Graphex will license and/or contribute its technology and expertise
to the Joint Venture and Northern will provide security of raw
mineral supply (graphite concentrate). It is contemplated that
Graphex will provide all the technology, plans and expertise for
building and operating the plant(s). Graphex has already secured
and is developing a site in Warren Michigan that is being designed
to produce 15,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of battery anode material,
and Northern is evaluating sites in Canada that could accommodate
production of up to 200,000 tpa of anode material. Northern shall
remain entitled to enter into supply agreements with third parties
for production not committed to the Joint Venture and to
participate in the construction of other graphite processing plants
provided that Northern may not directly or indirectly use, exploit
or disclose any of Graphex’s technology in connection with such
plants.
“By combining the experience and expertise of Graphex in
downstream processing and Northern in upstream raw material
production, the collaboration will improve the anode supply picture
for the industry significantly, beginning in North America,” said
John DeMaio, CEO of Graphex Technologies. “From the time we decided
to expand into North America, we have been committed to providing
foundational support to the electrification effort which means
contributing to solving industry-wide challenges - this effort with
Northern is exactly that.”
Hugues Jacquemin, Northern’s CEO commented that “Collaborating
with a company that has established technology and expertise will
enable Northern to leapfrog the product development stage and
substantially shorten our time to market. We look forward to
working with Graphex to establish a secure, domestic supply chain
for battery anode material in both North America and Europe.”
Graphite is the primary anode material in electrical vehicle
(EV) batteries. Typically, graphite ore is mined and concentrated
to ~95% purity by companies such as Northern. The mine concentrate
is then shaped, purified, and coated to create the critical EV
battery anode material in a downstream process by operations like
Graphex. The supply picture for natural graphite in North America
is marked both by a significant shortfall in the availability of
non-China-sourced graphite raw material that is needed to meet
projected demand, and the complete absence of experienced
commercial-scale downstream processing to transform that raw
material into battery-grade anode material. The collaboration
between Northern and Graphex seeks to solve both issues on an
industry-wide level by providing OEMs and battery makers with a
transparent, ESG compliant supply of quality product needed to meet
current and future demand.
Northern owns the only producing graphite mine in North America
with a current output of 15,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of graphite
mine concentrate. It also has three development projects with the
resources to produce over 100,000 tpa by 2025 and 300,000 tpa by
2027. Graphex has a long history of processing mine concentrate and
produces 10,000 tpa of high yield, high quality battery anode
material. Graphex is currently the only experienced downstream
processor of natural graphite that intends to develop an anode
material processing plant in North America. The collaboration with
Northern would allow Graphex to accelerate the expansion of its
experienced mid-stream processing capabilities into North America
and Europe. Given the emphasis placed on creating domestic U.S.
supply chains as promoted through the Inflation Reduction Act, the
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the Defense Production Act, the
Graphex-Northern collaboration represents a significant advancement
toward making a domestic supply chain for graphite anode material a
reality.
To learn more about these developments and more from Graphex
Group, please visit www.graphexgroup.com.
About Graphex: Graphex Group
Limited, is a Cayman Island company with its principal offices in
Hong Kong and regional offices in Shanghai and Royal Oak, MI, USA.
Graphex is focused on the development of technologies and products
to enhance renewable energy, particularly the production of
spherical graphite and graphene, key components in EVs/lithium-ion
batteries as well as in other uses. Graphex has extensive
commercial experience in the deep processing of graphite and
producing battery grade purified spherical graphite. Current
production is 10,000 tpa and an expansion is underway to increase
production to 20,000 tpa within the next 12 months. Graphex intends
to further expand existing operations to 40,000 tpa over the next
three years. Graphex is currently among the top suppliers of
specialized spherical graphite to the EV and renewable energy
industries and holds patents in areas including products,
production methods, machinery design, and environmental protection.
Graphex’s strategy is to expand its operations globally to support
energy transition and electrification efforts worldwide.
About Northern Graphite:
Northern is a Canadian, TSX Venture Exchange listed company that is
focused on becoming a world leader in producing natural graphite
and upgrading it into high value products critical to the green
economy including anode material for lithium ion batteries/EVs,
fuel cells and graphene, as well as advanced industrial
technologies.
Northern is the only significant graphite producing company in
North America and is positioned to become the third largest outside
of China when its Namibian operations come back online. The Company
also has two large scale development projects, Bissett Creek in
Ontario and Okanjande in Namibia, that will be a source of
continued production growth in the future. All projects have
"battery quality" graphite and are located close to infrastructure
in politically stable countries.
Forward Looking Statements:
All statements contained in this presentation other than statements
of historical fact, including statements regarding our future
results of operations and financial position, our business strategy
and plans and our objectives for future operations, are “forward
looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the safe harbor in Section 27A
and 21E of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange
act of 1934, respectively. You can identify some of these forward
looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,”
“expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,”
“believe,” “likely,” “potential,” “continue” or other similar
expressions. We have based these forward-looking statements largely
on our current expectations and projections about future events
that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of
operations, business strategy and financial needs. We have based
these forward looking statements largely on our current
expectations and projections about future events and trends that we
believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations,
business strategy, short term and long-term business operations and
objectives, and financial needs. These forward looking statements
involve various risks and uncertainties.
Information from third sources identified in this release are
based on published reports for such information that are generally
available by third parties. We have not commissioned any such
report or study and we have assumed the accuracy of such reports
without independent investigation or inquiry. Any such third party
is an author or publisher of papers or studies that are used by
industry professionals, generally, and there should not be any
implication that any such third party is an “expert” under SEC Rule
436.
This communication is for informational purposes only and is
neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to purchase
any securities of Graphex Group Limited, including but not limited
to its American Depositary Shares.
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