Graphite One Comments on Critical Mineral Executive Order Issued by President Donald Trump

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Graphite One (GPHOF) welcomes President Trump's new Executive Order on critical minerals, issued March 20, 2025, aimed at accelerating domestic mineral production. The order expands authorities of the Defense Production Act and EXIM Bank, both currently supporting Graphite One's projects.

The company has received a DPA grant for its feasibility study (expected April 2025) and a $325 million non-binding Letter of Interest from EXIM Bank for its Ohio-based anode manufacturing plant. The EO requires actions from Defense, Energy, and Interior Secretaries within 10-45 days.

Graphite One is developing a U.S.-based graphite supply chain anchored by the Graphite Creek deposit, recognized by USGS as the largest in North America. The project includes an advanced material manufacturing plant in Warren, Ohio, and a planned recycling facility. According to Alaska's Governor, construction could begin by 2027 with production potentially starting in 2029.

Positive

• Received DPA grant for feasibility study
• $325 million non-binding Letter of Interest from EXIM Bank
• Owns largest graphite deposit in North America
• New Executive Order expands government support for critical minerals development

Negative

• Manufacturing plant and recycling facility construction subject to financing
• Production not expected until 2029
• EXIM Bank Letter of Interest is non-binding

G1 CEO:  Newest Executive Order Serves as "Strongest signal yet that… there will now be a 'whole of government' engagement to accelerate domestic critical mineral development"

New Government Tools Include Federal Grants, Loans, Permitting Reform and Offtake Agreements

EO Expands Authorities of Defense Production Act and EXIM Bank – Entities Currently Supporting Graphite One

VANCOUVER, BC, March 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Graphite One Inc. (TSXV: GPH) (OTCQX: GPHOF) ("Graphite One", "G1" or the "Company"), welcomes the Executive Order ("EO") issued on March 20, 2025 by President Donald Trump, titled "Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production." 

"This new Critical Minerals Executive Order serves as the strongest signal yet that the U.S. Government has not only recognized the national security need for critical minerals including graphite, but that there will now be a 'whole of government' engagement to accelerate domestic development," said Anthony Huston, CEO of G1.  "The new authorities provided via the Defense Production Act, the EXIM Bank, and the FAST-41 transparency-in-permitting process – all of which have recognized the importance of Graphite One's complete supply chain strategy – confirm that G1 is well positioned for this new focus on bringing projects into production."

The EO tasks the Secretaries of Defense, Energy, and Interior with actions and initiatives requiring responses within 10, 15, 30 and 45 days, and waives related legal requirements under the "national emergency" provision of the Defense Production Act (DPA). 

Graphite One has already been the recipient of a DPA grant to accelerate the Company's feasibility study, which is expected to be released in April 2025.  G1 has received a $325 million non-binding Letter of Interest from the EXIM Bank for the construction of the Company's Ohio-based anode manufacturing plant. Both DPA and EXIM are among the agencies that will have expanded critical mineral authorities under the new EO.

The full text of the Executive Order can be found here, on the Presidential Actions page at the White House website. 

The Critical Mineral EO follows three Executive Orders issued by President Trump on his first day in office --  "Declaring a National Energy Emergency," "Unleashing American Energy," and "Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential" -- referenced in the Graphite One press release of January 23, 2025 Click here.  The new EO aligns especially with the focus on Alaska's role in U.S. resource development, hosting 49 of the 50 U.S. Government-designated Critical Minerals.  As Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy noted in his 2025 State of the State address, "the Graphite One deposit, the largest in North America, north of Nome, continues to move ahead with support from a Defense Department grant. Construction could begin in that project by 2027 and the mine could be producing as early as 2029."

Graphite One's Domestic Supply Chain Strategy

With the United States almost 100 percent import dependent for anode active materials, 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 material 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. The building of these facilities remains subject to financing.

About Graphite One Inc.

GRAPHITE ONE INC. continues to develop its Graphite One Project (the "Project") to become an American producer of high-grade anode materials that is integrated with a domestic graphite resource.  The Project is proposed as a vertically integrated enterprise to mine, process and manufacture anode active materials primarily for the lithium‐ion electric vehicle battery market.  As set forth in the Company's 2022 Pre-Feasibility Study, graphite mineralization mined from the Company's Graphite Creek Property, situated on the Seward Peninsula about 60 kilometers north of Nome, Alaska, would be processed into concentrate at an adjacent processing plant.  Natural and artificial graphite anode active materials and other value‐added graphite products would be manufactured from the concentrate and other materials at Graphite One's proposed advanced graphite materials manufacturing facility to be located in northeastern Ohio. 

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

"Anthony Huston" (signed)

For more information on Graphite One Inc., please visit the Company's website, www.GraphiteOneInc.com or contact:

On X @GraphiteOne

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, including those related to the impact of the EO, the timing of the issuance of the news release disclosing the results of the feasibility study and the filing of the full feasibility study, and events or developments that the Company intends, expects, plans, or proposes are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward‐looking information can be identified by the use of forward‐looking terminology such as "proposes", "expects", "is expected", "scheduled", "estimates", "projects", "plans", "is planning", "intends", "assumes", "believes", "indicates", "to be" or variations of such words and phrases that state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". The Company cautions that there is no certainty that the EO will impact the Company as set forth in this press release. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continuity of mineralization, uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary permits, licenses and title and delays due to third party opposition, changes in government policies regarding mining and natural resource exploration and exploitation, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is given as of the date it is expressed in this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable securities laws. For more information on the Company, investors should review the Company's continuous disclosure filings that are available at www.sedarplus.ca.

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SOURCE Graphite One Inc.

FAQ

What financial support has GPHOF received from U.S. government agencies in 2025?

Graphite One received a DPA grant for feasibility study and a $325 million non-binding Letter of Interest from EXIM Bank for their Ohio anode manufacturing plant.

When is GPHOF expected to begin construction and production at Graphite Creek?

According to Alaska's Governor, construction could begin by 2027 with production potentially starting in 2029.

What are the key components of GPHOF's U.S. graphite supply chain strategy?

The strategy includes the Graphite Creek deposit in Alaska, an advanced material manufacturing plant in Warren, Ohio, and a planned recycling facility.

How does Trump's March 2025 Executive Order benefit GPHOF's operations?

The EO expands DPA and EXIM Bank authorities, accelerates domestic mineral development, and streamlines permitting through FAST-41, supporting GPHOF's supply chain strategy.