Northern Graphite Signs Letter of Intent with Italy's Alkeemia to Secure Access to Cleaner Graphite Purification Technology Independent of China

Core Viewpoint - Northern Graphite Corporation has signed a Letter of Intent with Alkeemia S.p.A. to secure access to a cleaner graphite purification technology that is independent of China, aiming to enhance supply chain resilience for the energy transition in the West [1][4][9] Group 1: Partnership and Capacity - Northern Graphite will take up to 50% of the production capacity (100 tonnes per year) of a pilot plant being developed by Alkeemia in Italy [3][5] - The pilot plant will demonstrate the scalability of Alkeemia's HF purification process, which is more efficient and has a lower carbon footprint compared to competing technologies from China [2][5] Group 2: Strategic Importance - The partnership is part of a broader strategy to establish Western-based, vertically integrated supply chains for graphite and battery anode materials, reducing dependence on Chinese supply chains [7][9] - The agreement aligns with Canada's national priorities for critical mineral development, supporting the clean energy transition and enhancing manufacturing capabilities [4][5] Group 3: Technological Advancements - Alkeemia's purification process targets a purity level of 99.96% for graphite used in lithium-ion batteries, which is essential for downstream applications [5][6] - The technology has the potential to be scaled to 5,000 and 10,000 tonnes for deployment in Northern's planned Battery Anode Material facilities in Quebec and France [8][9] Group 4: Resource Integration - Graphite concentrate feedstock for the pilot plant will be sourced from Northern's Okanjande mine in Namibia and Lac des Iles mine in Quebec, integrating upstream assets with downstream processing ambitions [6][11] - Northern Graphite is focused on becoming a world leader in producing natural graphite and upgrading it into high-value products critical to the green economy [10][11]