Ann: Annual Report to shareholders, page-13

Moreover, after years of industry focus on the supply of cathode minerals there has been a market shift to concern over reliable and sustainable supply of anode materials, particularly natural flake graphite. As one of our customers recently commented, “we are facing a wall of demand for high quality, sustainable natural flake graphite.”

From the Chairman's Report this paragraph interested with the phrase "one of our customers". Is this one of the known ones or could this be another under a NDA. There is now constant reference to the US which makes sense due the IRA which has all EV manufacturers in the US scrambling for supply but more importantly processing. The sliding scale of percentage of battery minerals sourced or processed in US or FTA countries starts at 40%/2023 and increases to 80%/2030.
Has been my contention for yrs that Western govts could not allow China to control processing of EV energy metals with a world transitioning to RE and e mobility. Focus has been on everything but graphite over the last few yrs even though graphite makes up 53% of the battery. Doing the maths given the above % in 2030 no wonder they are now climbing all over EGR with its near term plant build.
One company in the US has been yrs ahead of the rest in tying up critical supply in every mineral but graphite which it like everyone has no other option due China's total dominance. Considering it will be the biggest seller of EV's and battery storage in the US it has the most to gain from a deal for SPG supply. The IRA has now changed that dynamic and by 2030 graphite becomes vitally important in making those percentages.
The tenor of the Chairman's Report leads me to think there is a lot happening behind the scenes and it may be that EGR are getting a bit of a "hurry the f###" up we need this yesterday.
Time to grab the popcorn as the fireworks can't be to far off.
My opinions and not financial advice.