Renascor Resources Limited (ASX: RNU) (Renascor) is pleased to announce the successful completion of equipment trials for its planned Purified Spherical Graphite (PSG) manufacturing facility in South Australia.
The trials successfully produced lithium-ion battery grade graphite across all targeted product specifications, further validating Renascor's eco-friendly, hydrofluoric (HF) free purification process and providing detailed equipment specifications for the planned PSG demonstration facility.
Commenting on equipment trials, Renascor Managing Director David Christensen stated: 'Renascor's eco-friendly, HF-free purification technology has the potential to deliver a globally competitive PSG operation and advance Renascor towards its goal of becoming a long-term producer of high-quality graphite products to the lithium-ion battery sector. With these positive results from the recently completed equipment trials, we have achieved an important milestone in the delivery of our Australian Government cofunded PSG demonstration facility. '
Renascor is developing a vertically integrated Battery Anode Material (BAM) operation in South Australia. The BAM project comprises: (i) an upstream graphite mining and processing operation, and (ii) and a downstream BAM facility in which graphite concentrates will be converted into PSG before being exported to lithium-ion battery anode manufacturers.
The BAM project is in the advanced planning stages, with Renascor intending to accelerate the development of the upstream mining operation to reduce the time to first production of graphite to coincide with projected near-term supply shortfalls. Renascor is currently undertaking an Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) process to mature engineering design of the upstream minerals processing plant and non-processing infrastructure3. The ECI process is intended to culminate with an executable EPC contract for the upstream operation, comprising a fully priced offer, agreed commercial terms, finalised project works scope, technical specifications and performance parameters4 . Concurrent with the development of the upstream mining operation, Renascor is continuing to advance the downstream PSG facility. As announced last month, Renascor was awarded a $5 million grant under the Australian Government's International Partnerships in Critical Minerals Program to construct a PSG demonstration facility5 . The demonstration facility will convert graphite concentrates from Renascor's Siviour Graphite Deposit into PSG through a continuous production process, enabling Renascor to test, demonstrate and optimise its purification flowsheet prior to detailed design and construction of the full-scale commercial facility6 . In preparation for construction of the PSG demonstration facility, Renascor recently undertook equipment trials designed to evaluate commercially available equipment.
The equipment trials built on previously completed batch-scale and lock-cycle tests by testing the Renascor purification flowsheet with commercially available equipment at comparable scale to the planned PSG demonstration facility. The trials successfully produced lithium-ion battery grade graphite across all targeted product specifications, with results of up to 99.99% carbon (versus anode industry standard of 99.95% C). The trials similarly met industry requirement for impurities, with all tests below industry impurity standards. Renascor has commenced engineering for the PSG demonstration facility, incorporating equipment specifications from the recently completed trials. The PSG demonstration facility is on schedule to commence commissioning in Q2 2025. This ASX announcement has been approved by Renascor's Board of Directors and authorised for release by Renascor's Managing Director David Christensen
Contact:
David Christensen
Tel: +61 8 8363 6989
Email: james@mandatecorporate.com.au
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