WA Government gives approval for Collie graphite micronising qualification plant

International Graphite’s research and development facility in Collie.
International Graphite’s research and development facility in Collie.

Works approval has been received from the WA Government to install new graphite micronising equipment at International Graphite’s (ASX:IG6) research and development facility in Collie.

The equipment is currently in transit from North America and is expected to arrive at Fremantle Port in September 2023.

This custom-built qualification-scale plant is a significant advancement on International Graphite’s pilot processing plant which was commissioned in September 2022.

The new qualification plant is designed to process graphite concentrates to produce a commercial graphite product for quality and performance evaluation by potential customers.

Capable of producing 100tpa to 200tpa of micronised graphite, the plant will also be used to develop graphite operating and materials handling expertise.

International Graphite managing director and chief executive Andrew Worland said a micronising operation would progress International Graphite’s plant to be the first mine-to-market producer of battery anode materials (BAM) in WA.

“Micronised graphite is a by-product of the micronising and spheroidising process used in the production of BAM and contributes to the economics of BAM production,” he said.

“A commercial scale micronising facility would help establish markets for future micronised by-products that would be produced from our planned Collie graphite BAM facility which would treat graphite concentrates produces from our 100% owned Springvale graphite project.”

Advertisement