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Imerys and Lomiko Step Up Battery Materials Development As The Decade of the Electric Vehicle Revolution Begins
Lomiko Metals Inc. (TSX-V: LMR, OTC: LMRMF, FSE: DH8C) (Lomiko or the “Companyâ€) has
identified spherical graphite production as a key goal in plans to
supply graphite anodes for Electric Vehicles (EV) Li-ion battery
mega-factories in the North American market as highlighted in Lomiko’s
July 16th, 2019
release. Testing for spherical graphite is to be included in the
upcoming Lomiko Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) which is planned
for the La Loutre graphite project located in Quebec, Canada.
The development of a strategy that identifies a way to create
value-added products is necessary to establish a long-term, profitable
business model prior to extensive capital outlay and is crucial to the
success of the company. A large multinational conglomerate, Imerys
Carbon and Graphite has also been working on new developments in the
graphite space with innovative products for the EV Industry.
Imerys Graphite & Carbon has a strong history in the production
of high-quality natural and synthetic graphite powders, conductive
carbon blacks and water-based graphite dispersions with the parent
company posting €4.6 billion in revenue and approximately 17,000
employees worldwide.
Imerys Graphite & Carbon’s fully owned natural graphite mine is
located about 250 km north-west of Montréal, Canada, in the small town
of Lac-des-Îles [53 km north of Lomiko’s La Loutre Graphite Property].
Operations started in 1989. There, graphite ore is mined and refined
into high-quality graphite products of various sizes and purities. These
graphite concentrates are directly sold to various applications or
further processed in its Terrebonne, Quebec plant [near Montreal]. In a
news release dated November 18, 2019, Imerys stated:
“New developments in automotive and in the consumer electronics
markets are driving a need for improved performance of lithium-ion
batteries in diverse operating conditions. QX products [graphite
additive tradename] enable fast kinetics during charging and can
significantly improve the performance of active materials.â€
“We are at the beginning of the battery materials bull market with
100+ Lithium-ion, mega-factories built or scheduled to be built
worldwide,†said Lomiko’s CEO A. Paul Gill. “Lomiko sees a tremendous
opportunity in creating a stable and integrated North American value
supply chain for North American EV manufacturers. This opportunity
represents a significant increase of confidence to the Quebec
government, Lomiko, and other companies to see Imerys step into the EV
field despite being close to closing their twenty-year operation at the
Lac-des-ÃŽles facility.â€
Graphite Sector Analysis
The price for 95% C (purity), 15 microns Spherical Graphite is
$2,700-2,800 USD/tonne, far above the price of other forms of graphite
as indicated by the Industrial Minerals.
Lomiko’s Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) will include costs and
the potential market for this key product. In order to start the PEA,
Lomiko must first deliver its second resource prepared in compliance
with NI 43-101 Regulations from La Loutre.
On November 4, 2019, Imerys announced:
[Natural and synthetic graphite] subject to general inflationary
pressures and will, therefore, be subject to some price increases to
reflect those inflation effects.
On October 18, 2019,
A recently opened mine in Mozambique owned by Syrah Resources, which
primarily produces 94% C, -100 mesh material since 2017, significantly
reduced their workforce and cut production targets for 2020.
The production cut will likely curtail the supply of natural flake
graphite supporting a general conclusion that an uptrend in graphite
prices may be imminent after a multi-year low in demand and price.
For more information on Lomiko Metals, review the website at www.lomiko.com, contact A. Paul Gill at 604-729-5312 or email: [email protected].
On Behalf of the Board,
“A. Paul Gillâ€
Chief Executive Officer
We seek safe harbor. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its
Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of
the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release
Attachment
A. Paul Gill
Lomiko Metals Inc. (TSX-V: LMR)