The US Department of Energy has selected US-based graphite processing technology developer Urbix to enter into award negotiation for $125 million of funding by the Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains to advance the construction of its commercial-scale graphite processing facility.

The funding, provided under the government’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, aims to expand domestic manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries for EVs and other applications. Urbix’s manufacturing facility in Muscle Shoals, Alabama will produce high-quality Coated Spherical Purified Graphite (CSPG) for US-based battery manufacturers. The facility will initially operate one commercial module capable of producing approximately 10,000 tons of CSPG per year, and may add more modules in the future.

The company’s long-term goal is to construct commercial projects strategically located throughout the US to strengthen CSPG supply chains and reduce reliance on foreign competitors for processed critical minerals.

“We are committed to using this grant to accelerate the development of our facility serving as a first step in providing a robust and secure end-to-end supply chain of premium graphite anode material that is vital to the industry’s ambitions,” said Nico Cuevas, founder and CEO of Urbix.

Source: Urbix