Australian mining company Sovereign Metals has confirmed its Kasiya graphite concentrate in Malawi to be of “excellent” quality as feedstock for lithium-ion battery production.
Recent testing revealed the graphite’s low surface area and good density, among other characteristics, that enable longer battery life and greater energy storage. The Kasiya Rutile-Graphite Project, which holds the second-largest flake graphite deposit globally, supports efforts to diversify lithium-ion battery supply chains outside of China.
“Combining these excellent results with one of the largest graphite resources globally, industry low operating costs and lowest global warming potential, Kasiya is presenting significant advantages over its graphite peers,” said Sovereign Metals Managing Director Frank Eagar.
The graphite has been evaluated to perform on par with top materials from Chinese manufacturers. Further testwork and optimization by Sovereign Metals is underway, with ongoing discussions with potential offtakers.
