The Western Australian government has granted $2 million to young company International Graphite which plans the state’s first micronising and graphite foil manufacturing facility for the former coal mining district of Collie in the south west of the state.
The first stage of the project is expected to create around 40 full-time jobs in the region, with plans to expand the facility to add manufacturing capability.
The first stage of construction is planned to deliver short term sales in traditional markets such as in graphite foils and fire retardants.
Development of the plant will see manufacturing of graphite products for new technologies including mobile phones, computers, high-pressure sealants and fire-retardant building materials.
According to IG: “Concurrently, IG will establish the equipment and processes required to produce battery anode material using a two-stage thermal purification process.
“The initial plant will produce demonstration product for analysis and product qualification, particularly with customers in Europe and North America.
“IG will be one of the first suppliers outside of China, to provide high quality, customised BAM for this highly tailored and emerging market.”
IG is in the final stages of seed capital raising and has its sights set on public listing on the Australian Stock Exchange.
Graphite has a wide range of uses with refractory materials accounting for 43 per cent of global consumption.
Picture credit: International Graphite
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