Through a new, $37.5 million agreement with Graphite One, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is pushing expansion of domestic graphite mining and processing, in the hopes of building up American capabilities to produce large-capacity batteries.
While such batteries are proving critical to modern and expanding ways of life, a reliable, sustainable supply of graphite materials has until now largely been a foreign affair. However, the Alaska-based Graphite One has proposed production of high-grade anode materials for the lithium-ion Electric Vehicle battery market and energy storage systems alike from domestic materials, like the Graphite Creek graphite deposit – the largest known flake graphite resource in the U.S., and one of the largest on earth.
The new agreement was signed by both Graphite One and the DoD’s Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy, through its Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization office. It was entered into through Defense Production Act Title III authorities, with money from the Inflation Reduction Act.
“This investment to increase domestic capabilities for graphite exemplifies Industrial Base Policy’s commitment to building a resilient industrial base to meet current and future national defense requirements,” Dr. Laura Taylor-Kale, ASD (IBP), said. “The agreement with Graphite One (Alaska) advances the Defense Department’s strategy for minerals and materials related to large-capacity batteries.”
Mining will commence at Graphite Creek, while graphite ore processing will occur at an advanced material and battery anode manufacturing plant yet-to-be sited, but likely to be situated in Washington state. Additionally, Graphite One intends to co-locate a recycling facility for the reclamation of graphite and other battery materials at the advanced manufacturing facility.
“Graphite One is honored to receive this award from the Department of Defense, and we look forward to commencing the accelerated Feasibility Study program immediately,” Anthony Huston, founder and CEO of Graphite One Inc., said. “This Department of Defense grant underscores our confidence in our strategy to build a 100% U.S.-based advanced graphite supply chain — from mining to refining to recycling. The U.S, simply cannot maintain a 21st Century tech-driven economy without Critical Minerals like graphite.”
With the DoD agreement and funding in hand, Graphite One will be able to fast-track a feasibility study by a year.