Graphite One Selects Ohio’s “Voltage Valley” for Graphite Anode Material Manufacturing Plant.
Graphite One Inc. (TSXV: GPH) (OTCQX: GPHOF) (“Graphite One”, “G1” or the “Company”), planning a complete domestic U.S. supply chain for advanced graphite materials, announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, Graphite One (Alaska), Inc. (“G1 AK”) has selected Ohio’s “Voltage Valley” as the site of the Company’s graphite anode manufacturing plant by entering into a land lease agreement for a 50 year term and an option to purchase (the “Land Lease“), as more fully described herein.
The site, located in Niles, Ohio, is a brownfield site previously used for storage of national defense stockpile critical minerals by the U.S. government, and has been processed through Ohio’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Voluntary Action Program. The site is located in the heart of the automobile industry, in an area with ample low-cost electricity produced from renewable energy sources. It is accessible by road and rail, with nearby barging facilities. The site’s existing power lines are sufficient for Graphite One’s Phase 1 production target of 25,000 tons per year (“tpy“) of battery-ready anode material, and land is available for follow-on phases to ramp to 100,000 tpy of production. Water supply is also sufficient to support expanded operations.
It is anticipated that G1 AK’s Ohio facility will manufacture synthetic graphite anode active materials. Production of natural graphite anode active materials will be added as soon as feedstock from G1 AK’s Graphite Creek Project near Nome, Alaska is available.
Anthony Huston, President and CEO of G1, said:
Graphite One is delighted to announce that, subject to financing, we will be building our advanced graphite material processing plant in northeast Ohio as the region emerges as a major electric vehicle hub.
“On a historical note, it’s great to come full circle, this site also known as the old Warren Depot included graphite in the National Defense Stockpile more than 30 years ago, the last time the U.S. actually mined graphite,”
“Ohio is the perfect home for the second link in our strategy to build a 100% U.S.-based advanced graphite supply chain – from mining to refining to recycling. The U.S, simply cannot maintain a 21st Century tech-driven economy without Critical Minerals like graphite.”
While the Phase 1, 25,000 tpy facility’s initial capital cost is estimated at approximately $435 million and is expected to employ more than 160 local residents, it is anticipated that the Warren Depot site can accommodate expansion to a 100,000 tpy facility. The Company is currently considering various project financing options.
Dave Joyce, Congressman, said:
With manufacturing being one of Ohio’s largest economic drivers, I am proud to see this new U.S.-based advanced graphite supply chain in Niles.
“This new project will bring over 160 jobs and spur even more economic growth in the area. I look forward to seeing the success of this project right here in OH-14.”
The significant terms of the Land Lease are as follows:
- Lease term is 50 years with an option to purchase
- Rent escalation begins in the fifth year
- Construction is to commence within thirty-six (36) months, subject to financing
- 5-year right-of-first-refusal to lease or acquire up to thirty (30) contiguous acres
- Customary termination provisions
2024 Kinvestor Critical Minerals & Mining Virtual Conference
Graphite One announces that Anthony Huston, President & CEO of G1 is scheduled to present at the 2024 Kinvestor Critical Minerals & Mining Virtual Conference on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at 9:00 am PT (12:00 pm ET).
Kinvestor Critical Minerals & Mining 2024 is a virtual conference featuring a stellar lineup of presenting companies in the critical minerals and mining industries. This event will showcase several junior mining companies exploring for minerals that are critical to the global energy transition including copper, graphite, titanium, and uranium, as well as the precious metals gold and silver. Presenting companies and industry experts will have the opportunity to share about latest developments and answer thoughtful questions from attendees.
Presentation Details:
Date: March 26, 2024
Presentation Time: 9:00 am PT / 12:00 pm ET
Presenter: Anthony Huston, President & CEO
Registration details below:
Grant of Long-Term Incentive Awards
The Company announces that the board of directors has approved a grant of long-term incentive awards for calendar year 2024 to employees, officers, directors and advisors consisting of 2,905,158 stock options (the “Options“), 2,376,956 restricted share units (“RSUs“) and 1,215,778 performance share units (“PSUs“) pursuant to the terms of the Company’s Stock Option Plan and Omnibus Plan.
The Options have an exercise price of $0.93 per share, being the closing price of the Company’s shares on the TSX Venture Exchange (“TSX-V“) on March 18, 2024. The Options vest one-third (1/3) on each of the first, second and third anniversary dates from the date of grant and will expire on March 19, 2029.
Each RSU and PSU will convert into one common share of the Company on each vest date. RSUs granted to management totaling 1,215,778 will vest one-third (1/3) on the first, second, and third anniversary dates from the date of grant and one-quarter (1/4) of the 1,161,178 RSUs granted to directors will vest on March 19, 2025, March 31, 2025, June 30, 2025 and September 30, 2025. The PSUs will vest on the third anniversary date from the date of grant subject to the achievement of certain corporate performance criteria. Further details regarding the Stock Option and Omnibus Plan are set out in the management information circular of the Company dated May 20, 2023, which is available on the Company’s website at www.graphiteoneinc.com or on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
The balance of the PSU grant totaling 1,215,778 is expected to be issued in the second half of 2024 as it is subject to TSX-V and shareholders approval, approval of which will be sought at the upcoming 2024 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders.
Following the above-noted grant of Options, RSUs and PSUs, the Company has 132,283,348 common shares issued and outstanding, 12,430,737 Options, 9,077,139 RSUs and 1,984,658 PSUs issued under the Company’s Stock Option Plan and Omnibus Plan.
Graphite One’s Supply Chain Strategy
With the United States currently 100 percent import dependent for natural graphite, Graphite One is developing a complete U.S.-based, advanced graphite supply chain solution anchored by the Graphite Creek deposit, recognized by the US Geological Survey as the largest graphite deposit in the U.S. “and among the largest in the world.” The Graphite One project plan includes an advanced graphite material and battery anode manufacturing plant located in Warren, Ohio. The plan also includes a recycling facility to reclaim graphite and the other battery materials, to be co-located at the Ohio site, the third link in Graphite One’s circular economy strategy.
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Graphite One Selects Ohio’s “Voltage Valley” for Graphite Anode Material Manufacturing Plant. source
