Northern Graphite Corp - NGPHF STOCK NEWS

Northern Graphite (NGPHF) has received support from the Port of Rotterdam for its planned Battery Anode Material (BAM) facility in Baie-Comeau, Quebec. The port, Europe's largest and a critical raw materials hub, views Northern's project as a potential anchor in a new transatlantic graphite supply chain.

The company is evaluating two sites for the BAM plant: a 300-acre greenfield site and a brownfield site at a former paper mill. The project has garnered support from local authorities and the Port of Baie-Comeau, while Northern continues seeking power allocation and funding for the feasibility phase.

Once operational, the facility would be among the first large-scale BAM facilities outside Asia serving North American and European EV markets before 2030. Northern plans to source feedstock from its LDI mine in Quebec and projects in Namibia and Ontario. This development follows Northern's selection for a Strategic Project under the EU's Critical Raw Materials Act and its membership in the European Advanced Carbon and Graphite Materials Association.

Northern Graphite (NGPHF) and BMI Group have announced a partnership to evaluate the feasibility of establishing a Battery Anode Material (BAM) facility at a former paper mill in Baie-Comeau, Quebec. The proposed facility aims for a Stage 1 capacity of 50,000 tonnes per year.

The project would be located at either Norderra, BMI's infrastructure-ready node, or a 300-acre greenfield site owned by the city. The partners will work with local authorities and utility providers to secure power supply and maximize economic benefits while minimizing environmental impacts.

The BAM facility would process graphite from Northern's LDI mine in Quebec and development projects in Namibia and Ontario. This initiative complements Northern's planned BAM facility in France, which has been designated as a Strategic Project under the EU's Critical Raw Materials Act.

Northern Graphite (NGPHF) and Graphano Energy have announced a strategic collaboration agreement to share technical expertise and resources for graphite development. The partnership centers around Northern's Lac des Iles (LDI) mine, North America's only producing graphite mine, and Graphano's neighboring Lac Aux Bouleaux (LAB) and Standard properties.

The companies will share geological, geophysical, and metallurgical data to advance exploration and development, with each company bearing its own exploration costs. The collaboration aims to expand resources that can be processed at the LDI plant, potentially creating new ore sources while accelerating Graphano's path to production.

This strategic partnership represents a consolidated approach to graphite exploration in Canada, supporting the country's position as a critical materials supplier while addressing growing global demand.

Northern Graphite (NGPHF) has achieved a significant milestone as its Battery Anode Material (BAM) plant proposal in France has been selected as one of 47 Strategic Projects under the EU's Critical Raw Materials Act. The project, requiring €159 million (CAD $244M) in funding, will process graphite from the company's Okanjande project in Namibia.

The facility is planned to begin operations by 2028 with an initial capacity of 20,000 tonnes per year of battery-grade anode material, scalable to 50,000 tonnes. The Strategic Project designation provides fast-tracked permitting, enhanced financing access, and support for potential off-take agreements. The project involves pre-purification and shaping in Namibia, with purification and coating in France, while battery testing will occur at NGCBM's German laboratory.

Northern Graphite has released a special report commemorating the 35th anniversary of its Lac des Iles (LDI) graphite mine in Quebec, North America's only graphite producer. The mine, which began operations in 1989, currently supplies over 20% of the US industrial graphite market.

The company plans to expand into battery-grade graphite production with a low carbon footprint, supporting the global energy transition and EV evolution. Key initiatives include:

• Resource base expansion through exploration
• Development of the first new pit in over a decade
• Mill revitalization to achieve nameplate capacity
• Environmental remediation and reclamation efforts

However, CEO Hugues Jacquemin highlighted significant financing challenges, noting that without additional capital, LDI might need to be placed on care and maintenance. The company faces obstacles including weak financial markets, low graphite prices, and slower-than-expected energy transition progress, with support from governments and strategic partners.

Northern Graphite has announced it is now providing three standard Battery Anode Material (BAM) products and its patented Porocarb® material to lithium-ion and solid-state battery manufacturers. This development comes one year after forming its battery division through the acquisition of Heraeus Group's battery division assets and R&D team.

The company's Battery Materials Group (NGCBM) operates a state-of-the-art laboratory in Frankfurt and is leading Northern's mine-to-battery strategy. The BAM demonstrator grades are produced using graphite from the company's Lac des Iles mine in Quebec and are engineered to meet industry standards for particle size, tap density, and surface area.

The Porocarb® technology, licensed through the acquisition, is a high-performance porous hard carbon material developed over 10 years to enhance energy storage efficiency and speed.

Northern Graphite (NGPHF) announced strategic management changes to enhance operational efficiency and align sales strategy with growing battery sector demand. Maximilian Meier, VP of Operations & Engineering at NGC Battery Materials, will become Interim COO, replacing Kirsty Liddicoat. Michael Grimm, President of NGC Battery Materials, has been appointed Chief Sales Officer, consolidating all sales functions as Marco Zvanik steps down.

The reorganization aims to flatten the organization, reduce complexity, and strengthen Northern's position as North America's only graphite producer. This comes amid growing geopolitical tensions, including China's recent export restrictions to the US and calls for tariffs up to 920% on Chinese graphite imports. The streamlined structure positions the company to scale operations in response to rising demand in electric vehicle and energy storage sectors.

Northern Graphite (NGPHF) has announced significant price increases for its graphite products in 2025 to offset rising production costs and inflation. The company's Lac des Iles (LDI) processing facility, which was halted for maintenance on November 2, is scheduled to resume operations on January 13, 2025.

The company reports a strong order book to start the year, attributed to robust demand, recent geopolitical events, and supply chain concerns. The LDI mine, which transitioned to a seven-days-a-week schedule in April 2024, achieved a 59% year-over-year increase in output. Northern Graphite aims to further increase production as part of its strategy to become a vertically integrated, mine-to-market supplier serving both traditional customers and the emerging battery anode material (BAM) market.

Northern Graphite reported Q3 2024 results with record sales volume but lower prices. Revenue was $6.7 million from 4,080 tonnes sold at $1,644/tonne, down 17% from Q2. The company posted a $4.8 million net loss with cash costs of $1,413/tonne. Lac des Iles (LDI) mine saw increased production with a 7-day schedule, boosting sales volumes 53% YoY. However, financial challenges persist with $31.7M in debt classified as current liabilities due to covenant breaches. The company plans a two-month maintenance shutdown at LDI, reopening January 2025 at higher throughput. A new pit development and drilling program are underway to extend mine life.