Development progresses for Queensland PSG manufacturing facility

Results from latest testwork are continuing to support the potential development of a vertically integrated purified spherical graphite (PSG) manufacturing facility in Queensland.

The Beijing General Research Institute for Mining and Metallurgy Technology Group (BGRIMM) has now completed a comprehensive flowsheet development metallurgical testwork program on a one-tonne sample from Lithium Energy’s (ASX:LEL) Burke graphite deposit.

The aim of this was to assess and develop an optimised flake concentrator flowsheet with BGRIMM successfully achieving grades of more than 95% total graphitic carbon (TGC) and recovery of more than 85%.

Both the grade and recovery align with typical requirements of the graphite processing industry.

BGRIMM also completed the concentrator process flowsheet optimisation testwork that will be required to produce a TGC graphite flake concentrate of more than 95%.

This will be suitable as feedstock material for a testwork program to define and optimise the metallurgical and process conditions to produce PSG suitable for use in lithium-ion battery anodes.

Lithium Energy has now begun a pre-feasibility study (PFS) for the development of the PSG facility.

The PFS envisages mining graphite from Burke and producing a TGC graphite flake concentrate at the mine site. The flake concentrate will then be transported to the PSG facility for processing by mechanically shaping and shperonising the flakes then chemically purifying it to form a high-quality PSG product.

It’s believed the PSG will be sold as an anode precursor material for use in lithium-ion battery manufacturing or for battery energy storage solutions.