Australian minerals firm Blackearth Minerals has received positive feedback from a Tier-1 lithium-ion battery anode maker on its graphite concentrate mined in Southern Madagascar.
China firm BTR New Energy Materials undertook an in-house test-work program to evaluate the concentrate for suitability as an anode material.
The material tested was produced as part of BTR’s Stage-1 pilot program at its facilities in Beijing, China.
The sample tested comprised of graphite concentrate -150 microns > 95%, with BTR believing the very low impurity content in the test sample was an advantage in anode manufacturing.
BTR has now requested a larger sample size with the goal of using the material to feed their spheronising and lithium-ion battery anode manufacturing plants.
By the close of 2017 China imported less than 1,000 tonnes a year of battery-grade graphite; by May last year imports exceeded 22,000 tonnes, according to industry analysts Roskill.