Focus Graphite Expands Technical Leadership with the Appointment of Veteran Graphite Executive Richard Pearce as Strategic Advisor

Core Insights - Focus Graphite Inc. has appointed Richard Pearce as Strategic Advisor to enhance its operational and production capabilities in the graphite industry [1][3][5] Company Developments - The appointment follows a conditional award of $14.1 million from Natural Resources Canada to support the establishment of a chemical-free electro-thermal graphite purification demonstration plant [2] - Focus Graphite is advancing its Lac Knife and Lac Tetepisca projects, aiming to build a fully integrated mine-to-market graphite supply chain in Quebec [10][13] Leadership Expertise - Richard Pearce brings over 30 years of experience in managing complex industrial and resource projects, with a focus on energy transition and critical minerals [3][4] - His previous role as CEO of South Star Battery Metals Corp. involved leading the development of a new graphite mine, providing valuable insights into mine development and sustainable production [4][5] Operational Strategy - Pearce will oversee ore-processing campaigns for the Lac Knife Project, focusing on optimizing equipment selection and process-flow design to maximize graphite recovery [8] - He will also play a central role in the pilot plant program for the Lac Tetepisca Project, ensuring a unified operational strategy based on empirical data rather than theoretical models [9] Future Plans - As Focus Graphite progresses towards commercialization, Pearce's responsibilities will expand to include developing offtake partnerships and scaling operations [10] - The company is committed to environmentally sustainable processing solutions and innovative battery technologies, including silicon-enhanced spheroidized graphite [14][15]