Thanks @Mallyrock (HC reply glitching today) for your above...

Thanks @Mallyrock (HC reply glitching today) for your above post.
I hadn't considered these aspects before, and the global geopolitical outlook would unfortunately seem to be a strong demand lever.

Indeed, graphite's applications are even wider.
This study on the critical raw materials for the EU 2023 opened my eyes wider than the battery-focus I've had of the clean energy transition that has spurred myself and many to get into critical minerals investing.They identified 15 megatrends/technologies that will underpin the transition:



Natural graphite was selected because of its dependence on one source (China) and its use in 8 of those tech areas:



And yes, we've heard of the demand scenarios, but worth re-iterating to clear the head of FUD.
Just as natural graphite is ranked a tick below the battery metals star lithium in the supply risk table above, it also scores the silver when overall demand scale is examined (LDS = Low Demand Scenario, HDS= High Demand Scenario):

To be honest, I think demand is being underestimated, as I'm unsure whether all forms of mobility are being factored into a zero carbon world, such as heavy vehicles such as trucks, buses, farm machinery, mining, garbage collection etc, let alone the military sector.

While the focus in the MSM is on slowing (or more correctly, increasing but at a slower rate than the stonking % of the past couple of years ) EV sales in the passenger sector, it is worth considering what will happen when the heavy vehicle sector starts seriously cranking out BEV.

The IEA note China is even more dominant in the production of e-buses and trucks, with over 80-85% of sales globally:
https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2023/trends-in-electric-heavy-duty-vehicles

Check out the numbers Beyond Zero Emissions have run just for electrifying little ol' Australia, and the possibilities that PM Albo has spruiked for local battery manufacturing actually make sense, particularly in these niche areas: https://www.bze.org.au/pages/electric-vehicles

As more global auto and battery gigafactories approach completion in the next couple of years, it will be interesting to see the rush downstream to ensure all their components and raw materials are locked in. Pretty sure there are a lot of supply gaps at present.

RNU investors may have been singing this subconsciously in their head, wondering when the market is going to love RNU again.
Pretty soon IMO
Have a great weekend all!