Syrah Resources, an industrial minerals and technology company, has become an integrated natural graphite active anode material (AAM) supplier outside China, processing natural graphite from Syrah’s Balama Graphite Operation in Mozambique.

The 11,250-ton-per-year AAM Vidalia operation in Louisiana is supported by high EV-driven demand internationally, the need for independent natural graphite AAM critical mineral supply, and industry concerns about the emissions intensity of production and provenance of supply. China’s recent export limits on natural and synthetic graphite and its products and US guidance on the definition of foreign businesses of concern that affect eligibility for the Section 30D tax credit for new EVs highlight the importance of building a supply chain in North America, the company said.

“Commencing production at Vidalia is a huge step forward in Syrah’s evolution, with the downstream integration being the culmination of almost seven years of technology development, feasibility, procurement, engineering, construction and commissioning work undertaken by the Syrah team and its service providers,” said Shaun Verner, Syrah’s CEO.

Source: Syrah Resources