WA projects moving alongThe most advanced project in Western...

WA projects moving along

The most advanced project in Western Australia is International Graphite’s (ASX:IG6) Springdale project near Hopetoun in the state’s south, which is moving towards a definitive feasibility study this year.

A January 2024 scoping study outlined competitive all-in sustaining costs of US$485/t.

IG6 is also building a pilot-scale, 3000tpa graphite micronising and spheroidising plant at Collie, which is fully funded via government grants.

Japan’s Marubeni Corporation recently visited Springdale and Collie and coordinated purification test work of Springdale graphite, which achieved battery grade specification more than 99.95% purity.

While Mineral Commodities (ASX:MRC) is suspended from trading, it is looking to make the Munglinup graphite project in WA its sole focus by buying out its joint venture partner.

While stalled, the project is advanced with a 2020 DFS identified operating costs of US$491/t.

Green Critical Minerals (ASX:GCM) has earned 80% of the McIntosh graphite project, northeast of Halls Creek, but is in a dispute with minority partner NH3 Clean Energy.

GCM has since switched its main focus to downstream processing after acquiring an advanced-stage graphite technology which produces very high-density graphite blocks from graphite powder.

The company has recently advanced thermal performance and density tests and believes the VHD technology has the potential to outperform and replace materials like copper and aluminium.