International Graphite has commenced a battery anode material feasibility study for its proposed downstream processing operation in Collie, Western Australia.
The facility is part of International Graphite’s plans to build a fully integrated mine-to-market graphite operation in WA, comprising a graphite mine and concentrate production facility at Springdale, and battery anode facilities in Collie.
Micronised graphite is the first stage in producing battery anode material for lithium-ion battery anodes used in electric vehicles and large-scale renewable energy storage facilities.
A recent front-end engineering and design (FEED) study found that the proposed graphite micronising facility could produce approximately 4000 tonnes per annum, making it the largest and most advanced facility of its kind in Australia.
Thus far, International Graphite has received $12.5 million in funding from the WA Government, including $6.5 million in April 2024 and $4.5 million in November.
Elsewhere in Collie, GreenSteel of WA has secured all regulatory and statutory approvals for the state’s first steel recycling mill.
The project is a step closer to making its final investment decision, backed by $2.7 million in funding from the WA Government and a now-complete FEED study.
The green steel recycling mill will convert WA scrap steel into rebar for local and international consumption. The plant is expected to become the cleanest and most efficient mill in Australia.
Construction of the plant is expected to commence this year, with early operations commencing in 2027.
International Graphite’s Collie facility and GreenSteel of WA’s steel recycling mill aid the WA Government’s plans to turn the state into a renewable energy powerhouse.
The WA Government has invested more than $662 million to deliver a Just Transition for Collie, a framework focusing on supporting workers, industries and communities in the shift from carbon-intensive industries.
“(The WA) Government is committed to delivering a Just Transition for Collie and establishing major new industries in town,” WA Premier Roger Cook said.
“Establishing a green iron and steel industry in WA is a key focus of our Made in WA plan, and Collie’s green steel mill will kickstart this new industry. Hitting these key milestones is another step forward to securing Collie’s future as a major new industrial hub.”
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