Capraise. Another long term prediction is the increased need for...

Capraise. Another long term prediction is the increased need for expandable graphite and value adding such as graphene in heat management. These applications include uses in batteries for EVs and grid storage, thermal insulation of building panels in regions with a warming climate, etc.

TON is currently into the expandable graphite sector. But they may be doing a JV possibly at TON's Balama projects and that may be more involved with battery markets.

Sure, there are alternatives, but similar to crude oil, it would be best to have a resource like natural graphite that can be used for a broad variety of applications. Hence, a mature and diversified natural graphite market shall be a more reliable source to industry and especially EV and battery sector.

There is talk about solid state batteries that use glass as part of the chemistry. However, there are currently issues to work out before it can come to market. Otherwise, silicone has been added to graphite in battery anodes. Silicone is also in glass. Ordinary glazing and container glass is formed from a specific type called soda-lime glass, composed of approximately 75% silicon dioxide (SiO2), sodium oxide (Na2O) from sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), calcium oxide (CaO), also called lime, and several minor additives.MNS has an interesting IP for a semi-solid state battery and believe it has graphite anode, but removing need for cobalt and nickel (from memory).

There are 100s of ideas for different batteries out there. The improved Lithium Ion Phosphate batteries look interesting to me. There are 1000s of new ideas for graphite and graphene use as well.

Anyway you look at it, TON has plenty of scope to do well with value adding if we get past finance soon.