Green Critical Minerals on track for construction of VHD graphite block pilot plant

Green Critical Minerals (ASX: GCM) has reported that construction of a pilot plant to produce very high density (VHD) graphite blocks is on track for commercialisation in the new year.

The project is being partly funded by the $2.48 million capital raising conducted earlier this month and critical equipment has since been ordered and is scheduled to arrive at the leased industrial site in New South Wales before January.

This should enable a seamless transition to the installation phase and reducing potential delays to project timelines.

Block sizes

Green Critical’s pilot plant will produce smaller VHD blocks for heat sinks used in semiconductor devices for high-performance gaming computers, supercomputers and data centres, as well as larger VHD blocks that will become critical components in solar thermal energy storage systems.

Construction is set to commence in December and will mark the start of a pivotal phase for the company as it moves closer to realising its vision of delivering advanced graphite-based solutions to high-growth industries.

The company remains on track for commissioning of small-scale production before year-end, after which it will provide sample blocks to key electronics market customers for testing and validation.

Once the pilot plant is running to capacity, Green Critical plans to construct a full-scale production facility focused on US demand for advanced thermal management solutions in electronics and renewable energy.

Fossil fuel alternative

VHD technology offers a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels by enabling decarbonised power generation and more efficient industrial processes.

The high-performance blocks are reported to have superior thermal and electrical properties at a fraction of the cost of traditional graphite production methods.

They play a critical role in supporting the global transition to renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies, which represents a market valued at more than $700 billion.

The company will seek collaborations with industry leaders, research institutions and government organisations to accelerate the adoption of the technology and facilitate entry into high-demand regions such as North America.