Northern Graphite Accelerates Lac des Iles Mill Maintenance in Face of Rising Demand
Northern Graphite (TSXV: NGC) (OTCQB: NGPHF) announces a temporary shutdown of its Lac des Iles (LDI) processing facility from November 2nd to January 6, 2025, for maintenance and repairs. This move aims to increase throughput to meet growing demand for natural graphite sourced outside China. The company will supply customers from existing inventories during the shutdown.
LDI's potential to produce more than anticipated when acquired in 2022 has led to plans for opening a new pit and increasing mill throughput. Northern's mining division is exploring operational scenarios following a successful 2023 drilling campaign and new resource estimate. The company's Battery Materials Group is advancing discussions with OEMs and battery makers, developing its battery materials portfolio, and seeing positive results for its Porocarb® product from leading global battery manufacturers.
Northern Graphite (TSXV: NGC) (OTCQB: NGPHF) annuncia la sospensione temporanea della sua struttura di lavorazione Lac des Iles (LDI) dal 2 novembre al 6 gennaio 2025, per manutenzione e riparazioni. Questa mossa mira a aumentare il throughput per soddisfare la crescente domanda di grafite naturale proveniente al di fuori della Cina. Durante la sospensione, l'azienda fornirà ai clienti materiali dalle scorte esistenti.
Il potenziale del LDI di produrre più del previsto quando è stato acquisito nel 2022 ha portato a piani per apertura di una nuova miniera e aumento del throughput del mulino. La divisione mineraria di Northern sta esplorando scenari operativi dopo una campagna di perforazione di successo nel 2023 e una nuova stima delle risorse. Il Gruppo Materiali per Batterie dell'azienda sta avanzando nei colloqui con i produttori di apparecchiature originali (OEM) e produttori di batterie, sviluppando il proprio portafoglio di materiali per batterie, e sta ottenendo risultati positivi per il suo prodotto Porocarb® dai principali produttori di batterie a livello globale.
Northern Graphite (TSXV: NGC) (OTCQB: NGPHF) anuncia el cierre temporal de su instalación de procesamiento Lac des Iles (LDI) desde el 2 de noviembre hasta el 6 de enero de 2025, para mantenimiento y reparaciones. Este movimiento tiene como objetivo aumentar la capacidad de producción para satisfacer la creciente demanda de grafito natural obtenido fuera de China. Durante el cierre, la empresa abastecerá a los clientes a partir de los inventarios existentes.
El potencial del LDI para producir más de lo esperado al ser adquirido en 2022 ha llevado a planes para abrir una nueva mina y aumentar el rendimiento del molino. La división minera de Northern está explorando escenarios operativos tras una exitosa campaña de perforación en 2023 y una nueva estimación de recursos. El Grupo de Materiales para Baterías de la compañía está avanzando en las conversaciones con OEMs y fabricantes de baterías, desarrollando su portafolio de materiales para baterías y obteniendo resultados positivos para su producto Porocarb® de los principales fabricantes de baterías a nivel mundial.
Northern Graphite (TSXV: NGC) (OTCQB: NGPHF)는 2025년 1월 6일까지 LDI(Lac des Iles) 가공 시설을 11월 2일부터 임시로 중단한다고 발표했습니다. 이는 유지보수 및 수리를 위한 조치입니다. 이 조치는 중국 외부에서 공급되는 자연 그래파이트에 대한 증가하는 수요를 충족하기 위해 처리량을 증가시키는 것을 목표로 하고 있습니다. 휴업 기간 동안 회사는 기존 재고에서 고객에게 제품을 공급할 예정입니다.
2022년에 인수할 당시 예상보다 더 많은 생산 가능성을 지닌 LDI는 새로운 광구를 열고 밀의 처리량을 증가시키는 것에 대한 계획을 세우게 했습니다. Northern의 광업 부서는 2023년의 성공적인 드릴링 캠페인과 새로운 자원 추정 이후 운영 시나리오를 탐색하고 있습니다. 회사의 배터리 소재 그룹은 OEM 및 배터리 제조업체와의 논의를 진행하고 있으며, 배터리 소재 포트폴리오를 개발하고 있으며, 세계 주요 배터리 제조업체로부터 Porocarb® 제품에 대한 긍정적인 결과를 보고하고 있습니다.
Northern Graphite (TSXV: NGC) (OTCQB: NGPHF) annonce la fermeture temporaire de son installation de traitement Lac des Iles (LDI) du 2 novembre au 6 janvier 2025, pour entretien et réparations. Cette décision vise à augmenter le débit pour répondre à la demande croissante de graphite naturel provenant de sources en dehors de la Chine. Pendant l'arrêt, l'entreprise approvisionnera ses clients à partir des stocks existants.
Le potentiel de production du LDI, supérieur aux attentes lors de son acquisition en 2022, a conduit à des plans pour ouvrir une nouvelle mine et augmenter le débit de l'usine. La division minière de Northern explore des scénarios opérationnels suite à une campagne de forage réussie en 2023 et une nouvelle estimation des ressources. Le Groupe de Matériaux pour Batteries de l'entreprise avance dans les discussions avec les fabricants d'équipement d'origine (OEM) et les fabricants de batteries, développant son portefeuille de matériaux pour batteries et obtenant des résultats positifs pour son produit Porocarb® auprès des principaux fabricants de batteries mondiaux.
Northern Graphite (TSXV: NGC) (OTCQB: NGPHF) kündigt eine vorübergehende Schließung seiner Aufbereitungsanlage Lac des Iles (LDI) vom 2. November bis 6. Januar 2025 für Wartungs- und Reparaturarbeiten an. Dieser Schritt zielt darauf ab, den Durchsatz zu erhöhen, um der wachsenden Nachfrage nach natürlichem Graphit aus Quellen außerhalb Chinas gerecht zu werden. Das Unternehmen wird während der Schließung seine Kunden aus bestehenden Beständen beliefern.
Das Potenzial von LDI, mehr als ursprünglich erwartet zu produzieren, hat zu Plänen geführt, eine neue Grube zu eröffnen und den Durchsatz der Mühle zu erhöhen. Die Bergbauabteilung von Northern untersucht nach einer erfolgreichen Bohrkampagne im Jahr 2023 und einer neuen Ressourcenschätzung betriebliche Szenarien. Die Batteriematerialien-Gruppe des Unternehmens führt Gespräche mit OEMs und Batterieherstellern, entwickelt ihr Portfolio an Batteriematerialien und verzeichnet positive Ergebnisse für ihr Produkt Porocarb® von führenden globalen Batterieherstellern.
- 59% increase in output since moving to a seven-days-a-week schedule in April
- Successful 2023 drilling campaign showing potential to significantly extend LDI mine life
- Joint development agreement with Rain Carbon Inc. for advanced natural graphite anode material
- Positive evaluation of Porocarb® product by leading global battery manufacturers
- Sustained demand growth and near-record sales since the second half of last year
- Temporary shutdown of Lac des Iles processing facility from November 2nd to January 6, 2025
- Potential supply disruptions during the shutdown period
- Temporary Shutdown for Maintenance and Repairs to Support Development of New Pit and Increased Production Capacity
- Customers to be Served from Existing Inventory to Avoid Disruptions
- Battery Division's Porocarb® Product Attracting Serious Interest from Battery Makers
Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 21, 2024) - Northern Graphite Corporation (TSXV: NGC) (OTCQB: NGPHF) (FSE: 0NG) (XSTU: 0NG) (the "Company" or "Northern") announces that the Company will temporarily shut down its processing facility at Lac des Iles ("LDI") in order to complete repairs and maintenance and enable the mill to increase throughput to meet growing demand for natural graphite sourced outside of China.
The shutdown will begin on November 2nd, with production estimated to resume on January 6, 2025. In the interim, Northern will seek to mitigate any disruptions by supplying customers from inventories and from third parties.
"In order to ensure increased, stable production in 2025 and beyond that can keep up with rising market demand, we have decided to move forward the timeframe for a maintenance and repair shutdown," said Chief Executive Officer Hugues Jacquemin. "Lac des Iles has the potential to produce more and for longer than anticipated when we acquired the mine in 2022, and we need to prepare as we look to open a new pit and increase throughput at the mill."
Growing output from the cornerstone LDI mine is critical to Northern's strategy as it works toward becoming a vertically integrated, mine-to-market supplier to traditional downstream customers and to the emerging market for battery anode material ("BAM") as well as for next generation all solid state battery chemistries. The Company moved the LDI plant to a seven-days-a-week schedule in April of this year, boosting output by 59 percent over subsequent months, and plans to increase output further after the plant reopens in January.
Northern's mining division is currently running operational scenarios to open a new pit after a successful 2023 drilling campaign and a new resource estimate showed potential to significantly extend the mine life of LDI. The Company is also planning a second drilling program with the goal of further expanding resources to increase production.
Battery Materials Group
As Northern prepares to supply coming demand from North American battery markets, the Company continues development of its battery materials portfolio and is advancing discussions with Original Equipment Manufacturers ("OEMs") and battery makers.
Northern's state-of-the-art carbon and battery laboratory in Frankfurt, Germany enables the Company's battery division to produce BAM derived from the LDI graphite mine and to build lithium-ion batteries that meet the critical performance specifications of automakers such as cycle life, driving range and charging speed.
Earlier this month the Company announced a joint development agreement with Rain Carbon Inc. to develop advanced natural graphite anode material to improve performance and reduce the costs and carbon footprint of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles. In addition, Northern's patented Porocarb® product is currently being evaluated by leading global battery manufacturers with very positive results. Porocarb® is a carbon-based material that enhances the performance of both solid state and lithium-ion batteries.
"We are putting the pieces in place to be ready when markets improve to supply North American battery makers with BAM processed from our graphite, tailored to their needs and close to their end markets," said Mr. Jacquemin.
Global graphite markets face rising supply pressures amid geopolitical tensions with China, driving consumers to seek secure supply chains in the West, and rely less on the world's largest producer and processor of the leading component in lithium-ion batteries. Northern has seen sustained demand growth and near-record sales since the second half of last year, and those trends are seen continuing into 2025.
About Northern Graphite
Northern is a Canadian, TSX Venture Exchange listed company that is the only flake graphite producing company in North America. Northern is focused on becoming a world leader in producing natural graphite and upgrading it into high-value products critical to the green economy, including anode material for lithium-ion batteries/EVs, fuel cells and graphene, as well as advanced industrial technologies. The Company's mine-to-battery strategy is spearheaded by its Battery Materials Division, which has a fully equipped, state-of-the-art laboratory in Frankfurt. The Division is focused on developing advanced anode materials to improve the cycle life and increase the charging rate of lithium ion batteries and on marketing Northern's patented Porocarb® product. Porocarb® is a carbon based material that enhances the performance of both solid state and lithium-ion batteries and is currently being evaluated by leading global battery manufacturers with very positive results.
Northern's graphite assets include the producing Lac des Iles mine in Quebec where the Company is boosting output to meet growing demand from industrial customers and coming demand from North American battery makers. The Company also owns the large-scale Bissett Creek project in Ontario and the fully permitted Okanjande graphite mine in Namibia, which is currently on care and maintenance, and represents an opportunity to substantially increase graphite production at a lower cost and with a shorter time to market than most competing projects. All projects have "battery quality" graphite and are located close to infrastructure in politically stable jurisdictions.
For media inquiries contact
Pav Jordan, VP of Communications
Email: pjordan@northerngraphite.com
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Please visit the Company's website at https://www.northerngraphite.com/home/, the Company's profile on www.sedarplus.ca our Social Channels listed below or contact the Company at (613) 271-2124.
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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "potential", "possible" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "will", "could", or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding, among others, the Company's plans to increase output at LDI, the Company's intentions to restart the Okanjande mine in Namibia and development plans for its other projects including Bissett Creek and its planned Baie-Comeau Battery Anode Material plant. All such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by management based on their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors they believe are appropriate in the circumstances. However, these statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected including, but not limited to, unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of other parties to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; unexpected failure or inadequacy of infrastructure and the failure of ongoing and contemplated studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued studies, development or operations and the inability to raise required financing. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements.
Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based on what management believes are reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with them. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release.
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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/227263
FAQ
Why is Northern Graphite (NGPHF) temporarily shutting down its Lac des Iles facility?
How will Northern Graphite (NGPHF) supply customers during the Lac des Iles shutdown?
What is Northern Graphite's (NGPHF) plan for expanding production at Lac des Iles?
What progress has Northern Graphite (NGPHF) made in its Battery Materials Group?
