Graphite and battery minerals in general heating up, and BAT...

Graphite and battery minerals in general heating up, and BAT has;

- 'a binding offtake agreement with China-based private company Qingdao Keshuo New Materials Technology (Keshuo) to supply 10,000 tonnes of graphite concentrate per year for an initial three years.'

- 'deals with Qingdao Black Dragon Graphite and Qingdao Guangxing for 10,000t per annum each over three-year terms.'

'These deals are in addition tothe first offtake agreementsigned in mid-December with Arizona-based Urbix Resources for up to 11,000t of graphite concentrate per year for three years, starting in 2019.'
https://*********.com.au/battery-minerals-fourth-offtake-deal-mozambique-graphite/

(Feb 2020 presentation: 70% of offtakes secured = 35000tpa of 50000tpa, so minus 5000tpa overall on the 40000tpa of offtake agreements mentioned above)

- MoU with Urbix for graphite processing JV in Mozambique
https://www.batteryminerals.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Battery-Minerals-Signs-MoU-with-Leading-US-Group.pdf

- Secured mining license in 2018;https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/trending/v_1l__h2k04hp3ensldzta2

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From recent article: https://www.mining.com/global-natural-graphite-output-to-grow-7-6-in-2021-report/

Looking ahead, natural graphite production is expected to reach 1,206.6kt by 2024 – a 5.6% CAGR. According to Bajaj, this will be supported by growing demand from the electric vehicle battery segment, where graphite is a key component.

Aside from the potential restart of Balama, projects that are most likely to commence operations during the forecast period include Madagascar’s Molo graphite project (2021), Mozambique’s Montepuez and Tanzania’s Lindi Jumbo (2022).

“These projects, together with the development of Syrah Resources’ Vidalia battery anode material project, which will make it the first vertically integrated producer of natural graphite active anode material outside China, will assist in reducing China’s dominance in the sector and providing alternative sources for battery makers across the globe,” Bajaj added.
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BAT appears to have everything in place and just awaiting financing.