In a recent enlightening interview with Tracy Weslosky of InvestorNews, Danny Huh, the Senior Vice President of Strategy and Operations at NEO Battery Materials Ltd. (TSXV: NBM | OTCQB: NBMFF) detailed the company’s strides in silicon anode technology for lithium-ion batteries, underlining their consistent progress over the past three years. Particularly notable was the discussion around the application for their 9th patent a month ago, marking a technological leap aimed at significantly enhancing their silicon anode materials’ production capacity and efficiency.

NEO Battery Materials has been actively engaged with evaluations of its anode active materials alongside global battery cell manufacturers, automotive OEMs, and major chemical material companies. The promising initial outcomes have ushered these collaborations into more extensive testing phases. This involves integrating NEO Battery’s silicon anode materials with traditional graphite anode materials in various larger cell formats, which are crucial for the batteries used in electric vehicles.

A standout achievement shared by Danny was the company’s successful pilot-scale capacity expansion to about 4,000 kilograms per year. Remarkably, this was accomplished without any need for additional equipment or alterations to the existing processes. This achievement not only underscores NEO Battery Materials’ innovative capabilities but also significantly boosts its production efficiency.

Further emphasizing the strategic maneuvers of NEO Battery Materials, Danny discussed the decision to increase the company’s ownership stake in NBM Korea. This move reflects the company’s determination to maximize the economic and technological gains from NBM Korea’s advancements and market penetration, showcasing NEO Battery Materials’ commitment to leveraging its silicone anode materials’ enhanced performance.

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About NEO Battery Materials Ltd.

NEO Battery Materials is a Canadian battery materials technology company focused on developing silicon anode materials for lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles, electronics, and energy storage systems. With a patent-protected, low-cost manufacturing process, NEO Battery enables longer-running and ultra-fast charging batteries compared to existing state-of-the-art technologies. The Company aims to be a globally-leading producer of silicon anode materials for the electric vehicle and energy storage industries.

To learn more about NEO Battery Materials Ltd., click here

Disclaimer: NEO Battery Materials Ltd. is an advertorial member of InvestorNews Inc.

This interview, which was produced by InvestorNews Inc. (“InvestorNews”), does not contain, nor does it purport to contain, a summary of all material information concerning the Company, including important disclosure and risk factors associated with the Company, its business and an investment in its securities. InvestorNews offers no representations or warranties that any of the information contained in this interview is accurate or complete.

This interview and any transcriptions or reproductions thereof (collectively, this “presentation”) does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to subscribe for or purchase any securities in the Company. The information in this presentation is provided for informational purposes only and may be subject to updating, completion or revision, and except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any information herein. This presentation may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and assumptions of the management of the Company as of the date made. They are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual events/results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties, including those that the Company does not know about now or that it currently deems immaterial, may also adversely affect the Company’s business or any investment therein.

Any projections given are principally intended for use as objectives and are not intended, and should not be taken, as assurances that the projected results will be obtained by the Company. The assumptions used may not prove to be accurate and a potential decline in the Company’s financial condition or results of operations may negatively impact the value of its securities. This presentation should not be considered as the giving of investment advice by the Company or any of its directors, officers, agents, employees or advisors. Each person to whom this presentation is made available must make its own independent assessment of the Company after making such investigations and taking such advice as may be deemed necessary. Prospective investors are urged to review the Company’s profile on SedarPlus.ca and to carry out independent investigations in order to determine their interest in investing in the Company.

2023 has been a rough year for all the EV materials and graphite was no exception. EV battery anodes contain a combination of spherical graphite (sourced from natural flake graphite) and synthetic graphite. Today we take a look at the key trends of 2023 and what we can expect in 2024 and beyond.

2023 graphite trends

A slowdown in the growth rate of EV sales in China along with less demand from the steel industry were mostly to blame for the graphite demand slowdown when compared to 2022. The other key factor was the excess anode capacity that came online during the 2022 China EV boom when EV sales skyrocketed.

China flake graphite prices fell throughout 2023 and have recently risen slightly from their bottom at ~US$550/t. China’s uncoated spherical graphite prices fell to US$2,200/t due to excess supply. China’s synthetic graphite prices were also weaker in 2023, due to slower demand.

A trend in 2023 was the increase in the popularity of synthetic graphite for use in battery anodes, particularly in China. Synthetic graphite prices have typically been much higher than flake graphite prices due to the high energy intensity needed to produce synthetic graphite. However falling energy input costs in 2023 and new capacity resulted in lower synthetic graphite prices and prices much closer to flake graphite. This led to anode producers increasing the ratio of synthetic graphite to spherical graphite in their anodes, and less demand for spherical and flake graphite.

Then in November 2023, the European Union added synthetic graphite to its list of critical materials as part of their Critical Raw Materials Act (“CRMA”).

Finally, in late 2023, China introduced temporary export permits for some graphite products (natural flake graphite, spherical graphite, & synthetic graphite) to apply from December 1, 2023. This has resulted in some recent price increases in the graphite market and a large amount of uncertainty around graphite products supply outside of China. China controls 75% of the global graphite anode supply chain.

The outlook for graphite in 2024

Most analysts are forecasting a fairly balanced graphite market in 2024, with the possibility of some price recovery from the 2023 cyclical lows. UBS tips graphite prices to surge 50% from the 2023 lows and has set its long-term flake graphite price at $850/t. UBS forecasts natural graphite demand rising by six times this decade to reach a demand of 6.3 million tonnes pa, with a deficit forming from 2025.

Others such as Macquarie Research are forecasting graphite deficits to begin in 2024 and increase each year to 2030.

Macquarie Research (as of March 2023) forecasts flake graphite deficits starting in mid 2024

The long-term outlook for graphite

Looking out further graphite demand is set to surge this decade and next due to the expected massive rise in global EV sales and energy stationary storage (“ESS”) battery demand. Below are 3 demand forecasts that give a guide as to what may happen over the long term.

• Benchmark Mineral Intelligence forecasts we will need 97 new 56,000tpa natural flake graphite mines from 2022 to 2035 to meet surging demand.
• The IEA forecasts flake graphite demand to rise 8-25x from 2020 to 2040.
• Trend Investing forecasts flake graphite demand to rise 17x from 2020 to 2037.

Trend Investing forecasts flake graphite demand to increase 17x from 2020 to 2037. The IEA forecasts a 8-25x increase from 2020 to 2040

Closing remarks

While 2023 has been a very tough year for the graphite sector the future looks much brighter, especially beyond 2025 when possible deficits are forecast to increase each year. For now, the flake graphite miners that are low-cost producers and who can develop integrated ‘flake to spherical graphite’ production stand to perform best. Several western graphite companies are rapidly advancing in this direction and are worth following closely.

Those graphite miners that can qualify their product to meet the IRA and/or the CRMA should also be at an advantage, especially with the U.S. Foreign Entity of Concern (“FEOC”) rules for critical materials commencing in 2025.

We will keep you updated on the graphite sector and miners in 2024.

I have some recurring themes that I tend to write about. I have no idea if people like them or not so I will continue along in my own little vacuum and hope that at least some readers out there find the same things interesting that I do.

One of those themes I like to revisit is clean, sustainable resource acquisition. By that I mean, we can’t just pillage the earth for all the critical battery metals we require simply because it’s a means to an end….well, we can, and currently we do. But I feel that at some point in time, there will be as much scrutiny on how we source these materials as there is on phasing out fossil fuels and reducing overall carbon emissions. At least I’d like to think that’s the case, but who knows if policymakers will take that next step. To me, it seems the end goal of a greener economy is kind of pointless if we don’t look at the whole picture.

Bottom line, in my opinion, we need to be just as concerned about where and how we are acquiring all the copious amounts of raw materials required to transition to a cleaner, greener future or we’re simply trading in one problem for another. Whether companies are recognized for this today, or not for some time to come, I strongly believe they will eventually be rewarded.

That brings me to Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc. (NYSE: NMG | TSXV: NOU), a Québec-based company striving to become a key contributor to the sustainable energy revolution. The Company is working towards developing a fully integrated source of carbon-neutral battery anode material in Québec, Canada for the lithium-ion battery and fuel cell markets, and other value-added graphite products. With excellent ESG standards, the Company aspires to become a strategic supplier to the world’s leading battery and auto manufacturers, providing high-performing and reliable advanced materials while promoting sustainability and supply chain traceability.

The Company’s activities are focused on the planned Matawinie graphite mine and the planned commercial value-added Bécancour Battery Materials Plant, both of which are progressing concurrently toward commercial operations.

The Matawinie graphite property, owned 100% by the Company, consists of 246 mining claims spanning 13,214 hectares, located around 120 km north of Montréal, Québec. An updated feasibility study for this property indicates an annual processing rate of 2.55 million metric tonnes and average annual graphite production of 103,328 metric tonnes. In 2018, the Company began operating a demonstration plant in Saint-Michel-des-Saints to validate the quality and processes of its graphite products, and to serve as a foundation for its Phase-2 battery material plants. Nouveau Monde has initiated steps towards making the Matawinie Mine one of the first all-electric open-pit operations globally, working in collaboration with Caterpillar and governments to achieve electrification in mining and aiming to reduce over 300,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions over the mine’s lifespan.

At the same time, Nouveau Monde is progressing with its Battery Material Plant Project, producing spherical graphite at its Phase-1 facility, and leveraging a proprietary thermochemical purification process to yield graphite with purity levels surpassing 99.95%. The Company has a partnership with Olin Corporation for operational support and raw material supply, and has set up pilot plant purification modules at Olin’s Bécancour, Québec facility. Nouveau Monde owns land in Bécancour to build its own manufacturing plant, projected to produce approximately 46,000 tpa of advanced graphite materials. This is further strengthened by the Québec Government’s battery hub strategy, which has attracted significant industrial players to the area. The Company’s current commercial plans for its Phase-2 Bécancour Battery Material Plant are being advanced in line with a recent Feasibility Study.

Nouveau Monde’s latest quarterly operational update provides valuable insights into the progress being made on both fronts. The Company announced significant advancements in the development of its fully integrated value chain, with the aim of becoming one of the largest natural graphite sources in North America. As the company approaches its Phase-2 development, emphasis is being placed on securing optimal multiyear sales agreements, finalizing technical parameters for the Bécancour Battery Material Plant, enhancing commercial visibility, and ensuring long-term shareholder value. Collaborative testing is ongoing at the Company’s Phase-1 plants alongside potential customers, aiming to optimize process efficiency, inform Phase-2 facility plans, and mitigate risks. Significant partnerships have been established, including a technology collaboration with Caterpillar and a potential long-term agreement with Panasonic Energy. The Company secured US$22 million in a bought deal financing in April to finish Q2 with a cash position of C$59.8 million, while continuing to engage with governmental agencies to optimize project financing.

Despite a slower start to EV sales in 2023, the market saw a 36% YoY increase with further growth expected in the latter part of 2023. Benchmark Mineral Intelligence forecasts the global production capacity of lithium-ion batteries to reach 8,930 GWh by 2030, suggesting a significant growth in demand for battery materials, including graphite. Nouveau Monde’s comprehensive production model and strategic advantages, such as carbon-neutrality and regional benefits, place the company in a favorable position to cater to Western markets looking to decrease dependence on Chinese suppliers. It’s not just enough to supply a critical material anymore, it needs to be done sustainably.

Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc. trades at a market cap of C$235 million.

In this InvestorIntel interview, Tracy Weslosky talks with NEO Battery Materials Ltd.’s (TSXV: NBM | OTCQB: NBMFF) Strategy and Operations Manager Danny Huh about their South Korean commercial plant to manufacture silicon anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. With the pre-construction phase expected to start in August 2023, Danny explains how NEO Battery Materials has accelerated its commercialization efforts with targeted completion of the South Korean plant by the first half of 2024.

Highlighting the need for expanded production capacity due to their growing customer pipeline, Danny discusses NEO Battery Materials’ recent decision to upsize their R&D Scale-Up Centre in “one of the epicenters of battery production, as well as battery research, in South Korea.“

Danny goes on to provide an update on their American subsidiary, NEO Battery Materials America LLC (NBM America), to market NEO Battery Materials’ silicon anode materials in the US. Danny also discusses their plans to establish another R&D facility in either Ontario or Quebec, Canada, to establish closer ties with battery manufacturers and other battery material players involved in the Canadian EV battery supply chain.

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About NEO Battery Materials Ltd.

NEO Battery Materials is a Canadian battery materials technology company focused on developing silicon anode materials for lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles, electronics, and energy storage systems. With a patent-protected, low-cost manufacturing process, NEO Battery enables longer-running and ultra-fasting charging batteries compared to existing state-of-the-art technologies. Building the first commercial plant in South Korea, the Company aims to be a globally-leading producer of silicon anode materials for the electric vehicle and energy storage industries.

To learn more about NEO Battery Materials Ltd., click here

Disclaimer: NEO Battery Materials Ltd. is an advertorial member of InvestorIntel Corp.

This interview, which was produced by InvestorIntel Corp., (IIC), does not contain, nor does it purport to contain, a summary of all the material information concerning the “Company” being interviewed. IIC offers no representations or warranties that any of the information contained in this interview is accurate or complete.

This presentation may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and assumptions of the management of the Company as of the date made. They are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual events/results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties, including those that the Company does not know about now or that it currently deems immaterial, may also adversely affect the Company’s business or any investment therein.

Any projections given are principally intended for use as objectives and are not intended, and should not be taken, as assurances that the projected results will be obtained by the Company. The assumptions used may not prove to be accurate and a potential decline in the Company’s financial condition or results of operations may negatively impact the value of its securities. Prospective investors are urged to review the Company’s profile on Sedar.com and to carry out independent investigations in order to determine their interest in investing in the Company.

If you have any questions surrounding the content of this interview, please contact us at +1 416 792 8228 and/or email us direct at [email protected].

Manganese is becoming a key part of the lithium-ion battery market, traditionally used in nickel, manganese, cobalt (“NCM”) batteries; but now it is also used in lithium manganese iron phosphate (“LMFP”) batteries. This new battery type offers greater energy density (and hence EV range) than the standard LFP battery. Manganese is still largely used in steel, but the battery demand looks set to grow much faster. Overall the global manganese market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.5% from 2023 to 2027.

LMFP batteries containing manganese are the latest development to improve lithium-ion batteries

As announced last month Gotion High-tech Co Ltd. (SHE: 002074) has developed a breakthrough LMFP battery that offers a “range of up to 1,000kms for a single charge and could last two million kms”. Their new battery pack will go into mass production in 2024.

In 2022 it was reported that “CATL will soon mass produce LMFP batteries”. Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (SHE: 300750) (“CATL”) is the world’s largest lithium-ion battery manufacturer by far with 37% market share and is a leading supplier of Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA). At Tesla Battery Day in 2020, Elon Musk pointed out that Tesla targets to use manganese in its batteries for long-range electric cars.

At Tesla Battery Day 2020, Tesla targets to use nickel and ‘manganese’ batteries for long range vehicles where vehicle mass is not too large

Source: Tesla Battery Day video 2020

Note: Red oval done by the author to highlight manganese

Today’s company made a key announcement this week regarding commencement of manganese ore sales.

Elcora Advanced Materials Corp.

Elcora Advanced Materials Corp. (TSXV: ERA | OTCQB: ECORF) (“Elcora”) is working towards becoming a vertically integrated battery material company. Elcora has developed a cost-effective process to purify high-quality battery metals and minerals that are commercially scalable.

Elcora’s key projects have graphite, manganese, and vanadium. Elcora also has exposure to anode materials and graphene.

As announced on June 12 Elcora

“has received its first monthly order for 1000 metric tons of 37% + manganese ore. The delivery of the first part of the order is scheduled before the end of June 2023. The order was placed by a leading European customer looking for a long-term supply relationship and marks a significant milestone for Elcora’s mining division.“

The order is not large but it marks the beginning of what can be a good business for Elcora if they can achieve large-scale production. Manganese ore (37% Mn grade) currently trades at about US$3.13/ dmtu (Dry Metric Tonne Unit) FOB Port Elizabeth.

Elcora states:

“The recurrence of orders is expected to generate significant revenue for Elcora Advanced Materials Corp, further strengthening its position in the industry. With the increasing demand for manganese ore, the company is well-positioned to meet the needs of its customers...Elcora Advanced Materials Corp is well-positioned to benefit from this growing demand, and this order is just the beginning of its journey in the manganese market.”

Elcora’s Atlas Fox Project in Morocco – Beni Mellal Manganese Deposit/Mine and the Ouarzazate Project (including the Omar Mine)

Elcora’s Atlas Fox Project in Morocco is rich in manganese. It is comprised of the Beni Mellal Manganese Deposit/Mine and the Ouarzazate Project (including the Omar Mine).

At the Beni Mellal concessions, Elcora has a 10-year Exploitation License. This manganese concession contains a surface deposit mine that operated during French colonial times. Elcora plans to leverage on-site infrastructure with ore ready for processing. In Q4 2023 Elcora plan to build a gravimetric concentrator to upgrade raw ore content (30% Mn) to 50% Mn and increase mine production to 2,500 to 3,000 t/month of 50% Mn concentrate.

At the Ouarzazate Project Omar Mine, Elcora has acquired exclusive mining rights and an option to purchase the 16 km² manganese mining concession. The concession contains both a surface deposit and underground mine. Elcora is leveraging on-site infrastructure and has existing manganese ore piles of approximately 6,000 tonnes that are ready for processing. Elcora plans to ramp up mining production to 2,500 tons per month at the Omar Mine.

Elcora’s overall manganese ore production capacity is targeted to be more than 5,000 metric tonnes per month from the above concessions.

Atlas Lion Vanadium Project in Morocco

Elcora owns the Atlas Lion Vanadium Project (304 Km²) concessions in Morocco. Elcora plans to further explore and develop these concessions with the goal of producing vanadium.

Elcora’s next steps for mining manganese and vanadium in Morocco

Source: Elcora company presentation

Closing remarks

In total, Elcora currently owns seventeen polymetallic (vanadium, lead, other), one manganese (and one option to purchase) and one copper licences/concessions in Morocco. 

Elcora is making strong progress on its goal to become an integrated battery metals producer. The Company already has the technology and facilities to purify high-quality battery metals (notably spherical graphite, graphene, and anode powder) and is now working on the mining side with manganese and vanadium (noting they already have a graphite mine). The Atlas Fox Project in Morocco has commenced stockpiled manganese ore sales and plans to ramp up manganese ore production from its concessions to 5,000/t per month. Following this will be development work and potentially production from the Atlas Lion Vanadium Project, also in Morocco.

Elcora Advanced Materials Corp. trades on a market cap of only C$18 million, suggesting this may potentially be just the beginning for Elcora.

In this InvestorIntel interview, Tracy Weslosky talks with NEO Battery Materials Ltd.’s (TSXV: NBM | OTCQB: NBMFF) Strategy and Operations Manager Danny Huh about achieving a significant technology milestone in the nanocoating manufacturing process of silicon anodes that can increase the driving range of electric vehicles and enable ultra-fast charging.

Speaking about the high performance and cost-reduction capabilities of their uniform nanocoating technology, Danny discusses how there is an increased interest from ten companies, including global battery and electronic manufacturers and EV automakers, to use NEO Battery Materials’ silicon anodes in their lithium-ion batteries.

Providing an update on its South Korean Commercial Plant construction that has completed the Request for Quote (“RFQ”) process, Danny also discusses filing NEO’s 6th patent to Korean Intellectual Property Office for one-step nanocoating technology for silicon anodes.

Danny also talks about the recent appointment of Dr. S. G. Kim, a silicon/polymer material and chemical technology development expert, as NEO’s Chief Technology Officer. Dr. Kim is the former Executive Vice President and Head of R&D of Hanwha Solutions Corporation (KSE: 009830), a multi-billion South Korean chemical manufacturing conglomerate.

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About NEO Battery Materials Ltd.

NEO Battery Materials Ltd. is a Vancouver-based company focused on electric vehicle lithium-ion battery materials. NEO has a focus on producing silicon anode materials through its proprietary single-step nanocoating process, which provides improvements in capacity and efficiency over lithium-ion batteries using graphite in their anode materials. The Company intends to become a silicon anode active materials supplier to the electric vehicle industry.

To learn more about NEO Battery Materials Ltd., click here

Disclaimer: NEO Battery Materials Ltd. is an advertorial member of InvestorIntel Corp.

This interview, which was produced by InvestorIntel Corp., (IIC), does not contain, nor does it purport to contain, a summary of all the material information concerning the “Company” being interviewed. IIC offers no representations or warranties that any of the information contained in this interview is accurate or complete.

This presentation may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and assumptions of the management of the Company as of the date made. They are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual events/results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties, including those that the Company does not know about now or that it currently deems immaterial, may also adversely affect the Company’s business or any investment therein.

Any projections given are principally intended for use as objectives and are not intended, and should not be taken, as assurances that the projected results will be obtained by the Company. The assumptions used may not prove to be accurate and a potential decline in the Company’s financial condition or results of operations may negatively impact the value of its securities. Prospective investors are urged to review the Company’s profile on Sedar.com and to carry out independent investigations in order to determine their interest in investing in the Company.

If you have any questions surrounding the content of this interview, please contact us at +1 416 792 8228 and/or email us direct at [email protected].

In this InvestorIntel interview, Tracy Weslosky talks with NEO Battery Materials Ltd.’s (TSXV: NBM | OTCQB: NBMFF) Strategy and Operations Manager Danny Huh about their ongoing commercialization and optimization process to achieve the 1000-Mile Electrical Vehicle Battery using silicon anode materials.

Having achieved a significant technology milestone of uniform nanocoating capability on silicon anodes, Danny explains how their technology can help increase the driving range of electric vehicles and enable ultra-fast charging.

The company is constructing a commercial plant in South Korea to expedite the commercialization process and aims to provide silicon anodes for battery manufacturers and EV automakers.

With a “top-notch R&D team”, NEO Battery Materials is currently constructing a plant in South Korea to expedite the commercialization process and aims to provide silicon anodes for battery manufacturers and EV automakers.

Danny provides an update on NEO Battery Materials’ expansion in the United States and also discusses how NEO Battery Materials plans to capitalize on the emergence of Ontario, Canada as a strategic battery hub with the battery gigafactories being built in the region.

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About NEO Battery Materials Ltd.

NEO Battery Materials Ltd. is a Vancouver-based company focused on electric vehicle lithium-ion battery materials. NEO has a focus on producing silicon anode materials through its proprietary single-step nanocoating process, which provides improvements in capacity and efficiency over lithium-ion batteries using graphite in their anode materials. The Company intends to become a silicon anode active materials supplier to the electric vehicle industry.

To learn more about NEO Battery Materials Ltd., click here

Disclaimer: NEO Battery Materials Ltd. is an advertorial member of InvestorIntel Corp.

This interview, which was produced by InvestorIntel Corp., (IIC), does not contain, nor does it purport to contain, a summary of all the material information concerning the “Company” being interviewed. IIC offers no representations or warranties that any of the information contained in this interview is accurate or complete.

This presentation may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and assumptions of the management of the Company as of the date made. They are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual events/results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties, including those that the Company does not know about now or that it currently deems immaterial, may also adversely affect the Company’s business or any investment therein.

Any projections given are principally intended for use as objectives and are not intended, and should not be taken, as assurances that the projected results will be obtained by the Company. The assumptions used may not prove to be accurate and a potential decline in the Company’s financial condition or results of operations may negatively impact the value of its securities. Prospective investors are urged to review the Company’s profile on Sedar.com and to carry out independent investigations in order to determine their interest in investing in the Company.

If you have any questions surrounding the content of this interview, please contact us at +1 416 792 8228 and/or email us direct at [email protected].

Last week I wrote an article about graphite and the potential for it to see prices rise steeply in the future. There’s one caveat to that article and that is the advancement of technology. Entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and generally smart scientists and researchers are always looking for a better, and preferably cheaper, way to get things done. Currently, graphite is the single largest component of lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles (“EVs”) at up to 48% of total battery weight. But what if someone were to build a better anode that used a different material, and that material provided improvements in capacity and efficiency over lithium-ion batteries that use graphite in their anode materials? That would certainly disrupt, if not completely ruin, my graphite pricing thesis. That’s why investing is not easy and why everyone is not a billionaire.

Silicon anode solution for EV batteries

Today we are going to discuss one of the many potential disruptors in the lithium-ion battery world. NEO Battery Materials Ltd. (TSXV: NBM | OTCQB: NBMFF) is focused on silicon materials for lithium-ion batteries in EVs. The Company is looking to develop silicon anode materials, NBMSiDE™, through proprietary nano-coating layers, to transform the anode materials space for the EV industry. The energy density of a lithium-ion battery is highly dependent on the anode material. Integrating silicon with graphite in the anode can increase battery storage capacity by 9-10 times, as well as help reduce battery cost and increase charging speed. So where do I sign up?!

Commercial plant under construction in South Korea and now US expansion

Despite the Company’s strong ties to South Korea, where NEO Battery Materials will initially invest 24 billion KRW or approximately C$25 million to support the construction and expansion of a silicon anode commercial plant, they are more recently focusing on expansion in the U.S. In January, NEO announced it was establishing NBM America Ltd., a U.S. subsidiary. NBM America will actively seek U.S. expansion opportunities that include the Company’s core silicon anode business and any new projects in the battery materials space.

The subsidiary will allow closer interaction with U.S.-based parties that are currently under non-disclosure agreements (“NDAs”) to expedite business and collaborative activities. It is also anticipated that NBM America will be able to secure funding opportunities from state-level programs and federal-level initiatives that include the Inflation Reduction Act and Department of Energy funding. The subsidiary will also target accessing the large pool of U.S. venture capital funding that focuses on cleantech thematic investing and strengthening EV infrastructure, assuming those targeted companies are not tangled up with the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (“SVB”).

NDAs and LOIs driving potential commercial relationships

Pursuing this strategy appears to be paying off because, by the end of February, NEO Battery Materials was announcing it had signed 5 additional NDAs in the EV battery industry including a U.S.-based investment bank and a private equity firm. The Company also further elaborated on its U.S. aspirations stating they plan to establish an R&D Center to manufacture silicon anode samples for North American battery manufacturers to expedite the timeline for joint venture opportunities. This facility will improve logistical efficiency by reducing the time between material evaluation and optimization.

A week later NEO issued a press release that it had signed a Letter of Intent (“LOI”) with a developer of robust, durable polymer electrolytes for silicon anode optimization with a spin-out company from a top U.S. university. The LOI will jointly explore opportunities to integrate the counterpart’s polymer electrolyte technology into NEO’s silicon anode system to improve performance by effectively controlling the silicon volume expansion issue. Additionally, the non-flammable nature of polymer electrolytes can provide increased safety improvements as opposed to conventional liquid electrolytes, preventing the risk of battery fires and explosions. Although it has been a while since I have seen a video of a Tesla burning on the side of the road.

Jump ahead to this week and NEO has confirmed plans to do a tour of various locations in the U.S. The Company announced that management is expected to visit Ohio and Kentucky in late March and early April to select a site for its U.S. headquarter location. The management team and key advisors also plan to visit New York City to hold meetings with prominent cleantech VC and investment banking firms.

Final thoughts

NEO Battery Materials has some pretty ambitious plans but if all those NDAs and LOIs start leading to some deals then they will need both their facility in Korea and in the U.S. to keep pace with business. Getting funding from the big cleantech firms in the U.S. will also support that build-out and top up the treasury which was sitting at almost C$2 million in working capital as of November 30, 2022. The Company currently trades at a market cap of C$30 million.

Neo Battery Materials Focus on Increasing Charging Speed and Storage Capacity with a Nanocoated Silicon Anode

In this InvestorIntel interview, Tracy Weslosky interviews Lomiko Metals Inc.’s (TSXV: LMR | OTCQB: LMRMF) CEO and Director Belinda Labatte about how Lomiko is developing a sustainable approach to critical minerals development in North America. Providing an update on their La Loutre Graphite Project in Québec, Belinda explains how Lomiko is well positioned to be part of the solution for the global graphite shortage that experts anticipate we will start to see in 2023.

As interest in North American source for natural flake graphite continues to grow, Belinda discusses how the shortfall in graphite supply may increase to 8 million tons by 2040. Speaking on the strength of Lomiko’s management team that has experience in getting exploration plays to production, Belinda states, “We know how to take a project all the way through the stages of development.”

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About Lomiko Metals Inc.

Lomiko Metals has a new vision and a new strategy in new energy. Lomiko represents a company with purpose: a people-first company where we can manifest a world of abundant renewable energy with Canadian and Quebec critical minerals for a solution in North America. Our goal is to create a new energy future in Canada where we will grow the critical minerals workforce, become a valued partner and neighbour with the communities in which we operate, and provide a secure and responsibly sourced supply of critical minerals.

In addition to La Loutre, Lomiko is working with Critical Elements Lithium Corporation towards earning its 70% stake in the Bourier Project as per the option agreement announced on April 27^th, 2021. The Bourier project site is located near Nemaska Lithium and Critical Elements south-east of the Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory in Quebec which consists of 203 claims, for a total ground position of 10,252.20 hectares (102.52 km2), in Canada’s lithium triangle near the James Bay region of Quebec that has historically housed lithium deposits and mineralization trends.

To learn more about Lomiko Metals Inc., click here

Disclaimer: Lomiko Metals Inc. is an advertorial member of InvestorIntel Corp.

This interview, which was produced by InvestorIntel Corp., (IIC), does not contain, nor does it purport to contain, a summary of all the material information concerning the “Company” being interviewed. IIC offers no representations or warranties that any of the information contained in this interview is accurate or complete.

This presentation may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and assumptions of the management of the Company as of the date made. They are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual events/results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties, including those that the Company does not know about now or that it currently deems immaterial, may also adversely affect the Company’s business or any investment therein.

Any projections given are principally intended for use as objectives and are not intended, and should not be taken, as assurances that the projected results will be obtained by the Company. The assumptions used may not prove to be accurate and a potential decline in the Company’s financial condition or results of operations may negatively impact the value of its securities. Prospective investors are urged to review the Company’s profile on Sedar.com and to carry out independent investigations in order to determine their interest in investing in the Company.

If you have any questions surrounding the content of this interview, please contact us at +1 416 792 8228 and/or email us direct at [email protected].

In this InvestorIntel interview, Byron W King interviews Lomiko Metals Inc.’s (TSXV: LMR | OTCQB: LMRMF) CEO and Director Belinda Labatte, and COO Gordana Slepcev about the coming global graphite shortage. With the recent drill results further extending graphite mineralization in multiple zones at the La Loutre Graphite Project in Québec, Belinda provides an update on Lomiko’s portfolio of critical minerals projects in Quebec.

With the Canadian Government announcing that all new vehicle sales will be electric by 2035, Belinda explains how the graphite supply shortage may increase to 8 million tons by 2040. Gordana says that 95% of the anode in a lithium-ion battery is composed of graphite. She goes on to discuss how graphite from Lomiko’s La Loutre Project may be suitable for anode battery applications which require graphite concentrate of 99.95%.

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About Lomiko Metals Inc.

Lomiko Metals has a new vision and a new strategy in new energy. Lomiko represents a company with purpose: a people-first company where we can manifest a world of abundant renewable energy with Canadian and Quebec critical minerals for a solution in North America. Our goal is to create a new energy future in Canada where we will grow the critical minerals workforce, become a valued partner and neighbour with the communities in which we operate, and provide a secure and responsibly sourced supply of critical minerals.

In addition to La Loutre, Lomiko is working with Critical Elements Lithium Corporation towards earning its 70% stake in the Bourier Project as per the option agreement announced on April 27^th, 2021. The Bourier project site is located near Nemaska Lithium and Critical Elements south-east of the Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory in Quebec which consists of 203 claims, for a total ground position of 10,252.20 hectares (102.52 km2), in Canada’s lithium triangle near the James Bay region of Quebec that has historically housed lithium deposits and mineralization trends.

To learn more about Lomiko Metals Inc., click here

Disclaimer: Lomiko Metals Inc. is an advertorial member of InvestorIntel Corp.

This interview, which was produced by InvestorIntel Corp., (IIC), does not contain, nor does it purport to contain, a summary of all the material information concerning the “Company” being interviewed. IIC offers no representations or warranties that any of the information contained in this interview is accurate or complete.

This presentation may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and assumptions of the management of the Company as of the date made. They are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual events/results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties, including those that the Company does not know about now or that it currently deems immaterial, may also adversely affect the Company’s business or any investment therein.

Any projections given are principally intended for use as objectives and are not intended, and should not be taken, as assurances that the projected results will be obtained by the Company. The assumptions used may not prove to be accurate and a potential decline in the Company’s financial condition or results of operations may negatively impact the value of its securities. Prospective investors are urged to review the Company’s profile on Sedar.com and to carry out independent investigations in order to determine their interest in investing in the Company.

If you have any questions surrounding the content of this interview, please contact us at +1 416 792 8228 and/or email us direct at [email protected].