Graphite One selects Ohio for its graphite anode material manufacturing plant
by CM Staff
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.
VANCOUVER — Graphite One Inc. has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Graphite One (Alaska), Inc. 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, 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 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.
“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,” said Anthony Huston, President and CEO of G1. “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.”
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
