International Graphite’s Collie processing plant showcased in official visit by Anthony Albanese

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese has inspected International Graphite’s (ASX: IG6) processing, research and development facility at Collie in Western Australia to gauge the company’s contribution to Australia’s critical minerals industry.

Mr Albanese was accompanied by Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen, WA Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Reece Whitby and other federal and state representatives.

The Albanese government’s critical minerals strategy recognises the national benefits of building Australia’s capability in the sector and the importance of adding value to the nation’s raw materials.

Global demand

International Graphite chair Phil Hearse said the prime minister’s visit would advance the development of the Collie facility in light of global demand for quality graphite.

“We are seeing growing demand for Australian products, particularly in allied markets such as the US, Europe, Japan and Korea,” he said.

“The knowledge we are acquiring from our qualification plant operations here in Collie, along with valued support from the commonwealth and state, has been critical in helping to develop our downstream processing strategy.”

International Graphite has previously secured $13.2 million in funding from the federal and state governments for its role in building the nation’s battery minerals capability and supporting Collie’s economic transition.

Mine-to-market strategy

International Graphite’s Collie facility is Australia’s first downstream graphite pilot and product qualification plant and a key link in the company’s mine-to-market development strategy at the Springdale project near Ravensthorpe.

Springdale is the second-largest graphite deposit in the country and one of the top 15 in the world, with an estimated 49.3 million tonnes at 6.5% total graphitic content.

The Collie facility houses pilot-scale graphite micronising and spheroidising equipment and a qualification-scale micronising plant, which has been producing graphite samples for testing by potential customers in the battery materials, defence, plastics and aerospace industries worldwide.

Expansion plans

International Graphite is finalising plans to expand the Collie facility to achieve a nameplate capacity of 4,000t of micronised products per year following the award of a $6.5m state government grant in April.

The facility will be tailored to process graphite mined at Springdale and create one of Australia’s first anode production facilities for the lithium-ion battery industry.

Micronised graphite is the first stage in the production of graphite for lithium-ion battery anodes and a critical conductive additive in battery cathodes.

It is widely used in many defence, electronics, and industrial products such as plastics, ceramics, refractory items, adhesives, and lubricants.