PIZZODIGINO
Pacifico
Leading Edge Materials Update on Woxna Battery Grade High Purity Graphite Qualification
Published by Craig P at 3rd October 2016
Categories
Tags
Vancouver, Canada – Leading Edge Materials Corp. (“Leading Edge Materials”) or (the “Company”) (TSXV: LEM) (OTCQB: LEMIF) is pleased to provide results from independent test work completed on samples of Woxna high purity spherical graphite. Test work was directed at characterization of the high purity graphite, and to determine its suitability for use in lithium ion battery anode manufacturing.
The high purity spherical graphite used in test work was produced using graphite concentrate from the Company’s 100% owned Woxna graphite mine and processing facility in Sweden. The Woxna project is fully permitted and operational ready for the annual production of approximately 10,000 tonnes of graphite concentrate.
The process to qualify graphite for the high quality lithium ion batteries used in electric vehicles has many steps. These first rounds involve grams of material and then advances to kilograms followed by more extensive testing in tens of kilograms. Fortunately, we have sufficient stockpiles of graphite concentrates in our warehouse to advance through these many tests as expediently as possible over the coming months. This latest round of test work achieved high electrochemical performance results, and exceeded expectations in most measured values. The Woxna high purity spherical graphite exhibited high reversible capacity of 360 mAh/g that is close to the theoretical maximum of 372 mAh/g.
Blair Way, President and CEO, states: “This is an important step in the process to qualify Woxna graphite for the high value and growing lithium ion battery market. With a fully operational mine and process facility, we are in a strong position to become a partner of choice in the supply of high purity spherical graphite. I look forward to sharing the results of our testwork over the coming months as we progress to qualify our graphite mine products for lithium ion battery customers.”
The Woxna high purity spherical graphite was tested by Coulometrics LLC, an independent laboratory in the United States with extensive experience in the preparation of battery materials.
Coulometrics President and CEO, Dr. Edward Buiel states: “Our evaluation of the Woxna graphite concentrates produced very encouraging electrochemical results. The high reversible capacity of 360 mAh/g exceeds most battery manufacturer’s requirement of 350 mAh/g and makes this material well suited for further lithium ion battery development. Furthermore, we anticipate additional performance improvements in the Woxna material as additional process development and material optimization work is complete”.
Leading Edge Materials is now defining the next steps required to ensure high purity spherical graphite produced from the Woxna project in Sweden can meet the stringent demands of lithium ion battery cell manufacturers. With a fully permitted mine and processing facility, Leading Edge Materials is well positioned in the Western graphite industry, and can play a lead role in the secure and sustainable supply of high purity graphite to the expanding lithium ion battery market.
Lithium ion batteries, utilizing high purity spherical graphite, have become the technology of choice for the automotive, consumer electronic and stationary energy storage markets. Up to 20% by mass of a rechargeable lithium ion battery is graphite, forming the anode where lithium is temporarily stored as the battery discharges.
The current global rechargeable battery market is estimated to be valued at approximately US$50 billion, with one third contributed by lithium ion technology. By 2025, it is forecast (Bernstein, Deutsche Bank) that the lithium ion market will grow by up to 4 times, driven in particular by the accelerated uptake in the automotive market. Goldman Sachs predicts 37% of new vehicle sales globally will be Electric (EV) or Plug In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) by 2025 up from less than 2% of sales today.
While lithium ion batteries have traditionally utilized synthetic graphite for the anode, as markets grow and battery cost per kilowatt hour falls, the battery industry is shifting to purified natural flake graphite material, to lower both the cost and the environmental burden of lithium ion battery production. In 2016, global demand for graphite for all battery types is estimated to exceed 125,000t (Roskill), with natural graphite accounting for around 90,000t (70-75%). Tesla’s “gigafactory” in Nevada, forecast to begin production of lithium ion batteries in late 2016, shall alone require a significant expansion in the global production of high purity spherical graphite.
The Woxna project has never defined a mineral reserve and the previous preliminary economic assessment on Woxna dated October 29, 2013, has been superseded by the Company’s current technical report dated May 11, 2015. As the Woxna facility is not in production but remains on a production ready status, any future decision to recommence mining at Woxna will not be based on a preliminary economic assessment demonstrating the potential viability of mineral resources or feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability. Under these circumstances, there is increased risk of technical and economic failure for the Woxna project, and the Company discloses additional risk factors relating thereto. The Company advises that it has not based its production decision on a feasibility study of mineral reserves, demonstrating economic and technical viability, and, as a result, there may be an increased uncertainty of achieving any particular level of recovery of minerals or the cost of such recovery, including increased risks associated with developing a commercially mineable deposit. Historically, such projects have a much higher risk of economic and technical failure. There is no guarantee that production will begin as anticipated or at all or that anticipated production costs will be achieved. Failure to commence production would have a material adverse impact on the Company’s ability to generate revenue and cash flow to fund operations. Failure to achieve any anticipated production costs would have a material adverse impact on the Company’s cash flow and future profitability. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
Published by Craig P at 3rd October 2016
Categories
Tags
Vancouver, Canada – Leading Edge Materials Corp. (“Leading Edge Materials”) or (the “Company”) (TSXV: LEM) (OTCQB: LEMIF) is pleased to provide results from independent test work completed on samples of Woxna high purity spherical graphite. Test work was directed at characterization of the high purity graphite, and to determine its suitability for use in lithium ion battery anode manufacturing.
The high purity spherical graphite used in test work was produced using graphite concentrate from the Company’s 100% owned Woxna graphite mine and processing facility in Sweden. The Woxna project is fully permitted and operational ready for the annual production of approximately 10,000 tonnes of graphite concentrate.
The process to qualify graphite for the high quality lithium ion batteries used in electric vehicles has many steps. These first rounds involve grams of material and then advances to kilograms followed by more extensive testing in tens of kilograms. Fortunately, we have sufficient stockpiles of graphite concentrates in our warehouse to advance through these many tests as expediently as possible over the coming months. This latest round of test work achieved high electrochemical performance results, and exceeded expectations in most measured values. The Woxna high purity spherical graphite exhibited high reversible capacity of 360 mAh/g that is close to the theoretical maximum of 372 mAh/g.
Blair Way, President and CEO, states: “This is an important step in the process to qualify Woxna graphite for the high value and growing lithium ion battery market. With a fully operational mine and process facility, we are in a strong position to become a partner of choice in the supply of high purity spherical graphite. I look forward to sharing the results of our testwork over the coming months as we progress to qualify our graphite mine products for lithium ion battery customers.”
The Woxna high purity spherical graphite was tested by Coulometrics LLC, an independent laboratory in the United States with extensive experience in the preparation of battery materials.
Coulometrics President and CEO, Dr. Edward Buiel states: “Our evaluation of the Woxna graphite concentrates produced very encouraging electrochemical results. The high reversible capacity of 360 mAh/g exceeds most battery manufacturer’s requirement of 350 mAh/g and makes this material well suited for further lithium ion battery development. Furthermore, we anticipate additional performance improvements in the Woxna material as additional process development and material optimization work is complete”.
Leading Edge Materials is now defining the next steps required to ensure high purity spherical graphite produced from the Woxna project in Sweden can meet the stringent demands of lithium ion battery cell manufacturers. With a fully permitted mine and processing facility, Leading Edge Materials is well positioned in the Western graphite industry, and can play a lead role in the secure and sustainable supply of high purity graphite to the expanding lithium ion battery market.
Lithium ion batteries, utilizing high purity spherical graphite, have become the technology of choice for the automotive, consumer electronic and stationary energy storage markets. Up to 20% by mass of a rechargeable lithium ion battery is graphite, forming the anode where lithium is temporarily stored as the battery discharges.
The current global rechargeable battery market is estimated to be valued at approximately US$50 billion, with one third contributed by lithium ion technology. By 2025, it is forecast (Bernstein, Deutsche Bank) that the lithium ion market will grow by up to 4 times, driven in particular by the accelerated uptake in the automotive market. Goldman Sachs predicts 37% of new vehicle sales globally will be Electric (EV) or Plug In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) by 2025 up from less than 2% of sales today.
While lithium ion batteries have traditionally utilized synthetic graphite for the anode, as markets grow and battery cost per kilowatt hour falls, the battery industry is shifting to purified natural flake graphite material, to lower both the cost and the environmental burden of lithium ion battery production. In 2016, global demand for graphite for all battery types is estimated to exceed 125,000t (Roskill), with natural graphite accounting for around 90,000t (70-75%). Tesla’s “gigafactory” in Nevada, forecast to begin production of lithium ion batteries in late 2016, shall alone require a significant expansion in the global production of high purity spherical graphite.
The Woxna project has never defined a mineral reserve and the previous preliminary economic assessment on Woxna dated October 29, 2013, has been superseded by the Company’s current technical report dated May 11, 2015. As the Woxna facility is not in production but remains on a production ready status, any future decision to recommence mining at Woxna will not be based on a preliminary economic assessment demonstrating the potential viability of mineral resources or feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability. Under these circumstances, there is increased risk of technical and economic failure for the Woxna project, and the Company discloses additional risk factors relating thereto. The Company advises that it has not based its production decision on a feasibility study of mineral reserves, demonstrating economic and technical viability, and, as a result, there may be an increased uncertainty of achieving any particular level of recovery of minerals or the cost of such recovery, including increased risks associated with developing a commercially mineable deposit. Historically, such projects have a much higher risk of economic and technical failure. There is no guarantee that production will begin as anticipated or at all or that anticipated production costs will be achieved. Failure to commence production would have a material adverse impact on the Company’s ability to generate revenue and cash flow to fund operations. Failure to achieve any anticipated production costs would have a material adverse impact on the Company’s cash flow and future profitability. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.