I could be entirely wrong but I'm fairly convinced the third party is EGR - it makes a lot of sense.
MO mentions:"discussions with parties who are in the business of producing these anode materials".MO states one of these parties has requested a sample of material to test using their own processes, and the tests will be based on their processing pathway and that the equipment used for testing is specialised, it's not available in Australia, but it is available in Germany. In the same video we know that the third party is not based in Germany, but they use a test firm in Germany. We can assume they use the same test firm we're using - ProGraphite.
Who has their own processes, are based in Australia (because logistically that makes the most sense for CRL & also any interested third parties), but carry out their test work in Germany? EGR, they have worked in conjunction with ProGraphite over the years to develop these processes. They also have a pilot plant in Germany where 4 years of test work has taken place which explains how they are able to carry out their test work on our sample while not being based in the country.
When Cristoph Frey resigned from EGR due to a conflict of interest, arrangements were made between EGR and ProGraphite to "continue a technical co-operation on the company's proprietary purification process, including the evaluation of high purity carbon products, battery recycling, synthetic graphite analysis and spherical graphite coating to support new business opportunities."
EGR are developing a battery graphite manufacturing facility in WA in Kwinana. The intention is to import natural flake graphite as feedstock from existing producers and turn it into battery graphite using EGR's patented & environmentally friendly processes.
They have tested sources of graphite feedstock from different companies globally in the past, the test work involving micronisation and spheronisation as well as the proprietary ecograf purifcation method to test purifcation. The testwork was carried out in partnership with ProGraphite in ecografs german piloting facility - I suspect the same thing is happening here with CRL's sample.
To my understanding, from this testing, they currently have an MOU with Technografit which is a German company who sources graphite concentrate from other countries...they would then process it in Kwinana and then send to Asia, Europe etc - this is probably not an ideal supply chain. Ideally they would source this graphite locally. Logistically CRL would make sense here, a 6-7 hour drive separates Kwinana and Hopetoun where Springdale is located.
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