• Renascor produces graphite concentrate for use in purified spherical graphite demonstration facility
• Process produces concentrate with 96.8% carbon grade and 96.5% recovery, exceeding DFS parameters
• Milestone achievement as US slaps Chinese anodes with 93.5% anti-dumping duties

 

Special Report: Renascor Resources has hit another milestone with the production of graphite concentrate from a 730t bulk ore sample collected from its Siviour deposit in South Australia.

The concentrate will be used as feedstock for the company’s planned Australian government co-funded purified spherical graphite demonstration plant.

It was processed at a commercial graphite facility in China through conventional flotation using the company’s optimised flowsheet.

Notably for Renascor Resources (ASX:RNU), the process exceeded the parameters of its definitive feasibility study by producing a concentrate with an average grade of 96.8% carbon with 96.5% graphite recovery (95% carbon and 95.5% recovery in the DFS).

Initial deliveries of the concentrate are expected to arrive in South Australia in time for the scheduled commissioning of the demonstration facility in the December 2025 quarter.

The facility is intended to demonstrate the commercial viability of the company’s eco-friendly, hydrofluoric acid-free PSG process and is a key plank in RNU’s strategy to become the first non-Chinese integrated producer of PSG for lithium-ion battery anodes.

This will seize the opportunity presented by growing interest in developing alternative supply chains to those dominated by China as evidenced by the US Department of Commerce’s recent announcement of 93.5% anti-dumping duties on Chinese anodes – increasing US tariffs on most Chinese anode material to 160%.

 

Low cost graphite concentrate

Managing director David Christensen said the competitiveness of RNU’s BAM project was underpinned by the Siviour graphite deposit, which had the potential to be amongst the world’s lowest cost sources of graphite concentrates.

Siviour is the world’s second largest proven reserve of graphite and the largest outside Africa.

“Our work in maturing the technical readiness level of our purification process, including utilising the bulk sample material for our PSG demonstration plant, offers an additional comparative advantage that can transform Renascor into a vertically integrated battery materials company, offering a secure and competitive source of high-value, 100% Australian-made graphite,” he said. 

“The recent anti-dumping duties imposed by the United States on Chinese anode material highlight the need for projects like Siviour to fill the growing ex-China demand for battery anode material.”

RNU expects commissioning of the water treatment circuit at its demonstration facility to begin this quarter with full-scale commissioning expected to start next quarter.

 

 

This article was developed in collaboration with Renascor Resources a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing. 

 

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.