Author name: Cornelius Karow

The Canadian company Global Battery Materials Corp. has delivered their first graphite samples from the Kearney Mine in Ontario to customers in the U.S. Simultaneously, the company opened a new graphite laboratory in Quebec.  The samples originate from the Kearney Mine, a historically operational graphite source that has been reactivated. Currently, potential buyers in the U.S. are evaluating the samples. The new laboratory in Quebec is designed to process and analyze natural graphite. Its goal is to achieve purity levels of up to 97 percent carbon. Processing takes place on a laboratory scale and is modeled after industrial processes. Additionally, complete process simulations are being conducted.  Global Battery Materials already operates a pilot and research facility for the production of anode materials in South Korea. According to the company, this allows them to provide an end-to-end supply chain outside of China. Source:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-battery-materials-ships-first-graphite-samples-to-us-customer-opens-new-graphite-lab-in-quebec-302725090.html

The South Korean battery materials manufacturer POSCO Future M has entered into a partnership with the U.S. company Molten. The goal is to develop a natural graphite anode material using methane gas. As part of the agreement, Molten will produce the graphite via methane pyrolysis. POSCO Future M will then further process the material through its subsidiary, FutureGraph, before manufacturing the final product at a plant in Sejong. Using this approach, the companies will not rely on conventionally mined graphite. Molten claims to be the only company capable of producing graphite through methane pyrolysis. Alternative Raw Material Base for Anode Material Graphite derived from methane reportedly contains fewer metallic impurities than mined material. This could reduce the effort required for subsequent purification steps. The company claims that this results in potential cost advantages in the production of anode materials. Another benefit is the production of hydrogen as a byproduct of methane pyrolysis. The POSCO Group is exploring ways to reuse this hydrogen. Possible applications include power generation and hydrogen-based steel manufacturing processes. The parties involved did not announce any specific timelines for pilot projects or industrial implementation. Source:https://www.poscofuturem.com/en/pr/view.do?num=1004

Samsung SDI has signed a supply agreement with the South Korean materials manufacturer L&F. The three-year agreement, beginning next year, is for the procurement of cathode materials for lithium iron phosphate batteries. According to Samsung SDI, the contract is valued at approximately 1.6 trillion KRW (about 1.07 billion USD). The agreement includes an option to extend it for an additional three years. The materials are intended for use in energy storage systems. Production will take place in the U.S. state of Indiana, where Samsung SDI operates the StarPlus Energy joint venture with Stellantis. There, existing production lines are being partially converted from electric vehicle batteries to energy storage system (ESS) applications. Mass production of LFP and NCA batteries is planned to start in the fourth quarter of this year. Focus on Supply Chain Diversity This agreement is part of a strategic realignment of supply chains. Historically, the battery industry has been heavily dependent on Chinese suppliers for LFP cathode material. Meanwhile, the U.S. is tightening regulatory requirements for products with ties to China, including regulations targeting so-called “prohibited foreign entities.” According to Samsung SDI’s own statements, the company aims to reduce these dependencies. Its collaboration with a domestic partner is presented as a step toward stabilizing the supply of materials. In August of last year, L&F announced investments in LFP cathode production and is currently increasing capacity to 60,000 tons per year. Meanwhile, Samsung SDI is expanding its activities in the North American energy storage market. At the end of last year, Samsung SDI signed a supply contract worth approximately 2 trillion KRW with a U.S. energy company. In mid-March, this was followed by another order worth around 1.5 trillion KRW. Source:https://www.samsungsdi.com/sdi-now/sdi-news/4822.html?pageIndex=1&pagesize=15&idx=4822