Zentek's Albany Graphite Has Demonstrated Nuclear Grade Performance in Independent Testing, Opening Pathways Into a Range of High-Return Commercial Markets

Rhea-AI Summary

Zentek (Nasdaq:ZTEK) said subsidiary Albany Graphite achieved ultra-high purity—five‑nines (99.9992%) with an equivalent boron concentration of 2.60 ppm—meeting the <3 ppm threshold commonly referenced for nuclear applications. Independent lab tests of near‑net‑shaped graphite bricks confirmed finished components met key nuclear‑grade benchmarks for strength, density, electrical performance and impurity levels.

Management cites a growing ultra‑high‑purity graphite market (estimated 10.5% CAGR to 2030) and projects potential demand of 100,000–200,000 tonnes/year of purified natural high‑purity graphite over 15–20 years, positioning Albany as a potential North American supplier for nuclear, defense, aerospace and premium battery markets.

Positive

• Purity confirmed at 99.9992% (five‑nines)
• Boron equivalent measured at 2.60 ppm (<3 ppm nuclear threshold)
• Independent tests: bricks met nuclear‑grade benchmarks for strength, density and electrical performance
• Market growth estimate: 10.5% CAGR to 2030
• Management demand estimate: 100,000–200,000 t/year purified natural graphite (15–20 years)

Negative

• None.

News Market Reaction – ZTEK

+8.48%

3 alerts

+8.48% News Effect

+8.3% Peak Tracked

+$6M Valuation Impact

$82M Market Cap

1.0x Rel. Volume

On the day this news was published, ZTEK gained 8.48%, reflecting a notable positive market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +8.3% during that session. Our momentum scanner triggered 3 alerts that day, indicating moderate trading interest and price volatility. This price movement added approximately $6M to the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $82M at that time.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

Graphite purity: 99.9992% Equivalent boron concentration: 2.60 ppm Nuclear boron threshold: 3 ppm +5 more

8 metrics

Graphite purity 99.9992% Albany graphite LOI purity for nuclear-grade specifications

Equivalent boron concentration 2.60 ppm Below less-than-3-ppm threshold referenced for nuclear applications

Nuclear boron threshold 3 ppm General benchmark for boron concentration in nuclear graphite

UHP graphite CAGR 10.5% Expected compound annual growth rate through 2030

Purified graphite demand 100,000–200,000 tonnes/year Expected demand for purified natural high-purity graphite over time

Demand horizon 15–20 years Timeframe over which high-purity graphite demand is expected

Albany content in bricks Up to 3 wt.% Albany graphite share in independently tested graphite bricks

Test graphite bricks 3 bricks Number of near-net-shaped graphite bricks independently tested

Market Reality Check

Price: $0.5902 Vol: Volume 35,587 vs 20-day a...

normal vol

$0.5902 Last Close

Volume Volume 35,587 vs 20-day average 43,900 (relative volume 0.81x), not indicating heavy accumulation. normal

Technical Pre-news price 0.672 was trading below the 200-day MA of 1.01, reflecting a longer-term downtrend.

Peers on Argus

Peers in the same sector showed mixed moves, with names like ZJYL and MBOT up wh...

Peers in the same sector showed mixed moves, with names like ZJYL and MBOT up while PDEX and KRMD declined, suggesting Zentek’s move was more stock-specific than sector-driven.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Dec 17 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 17	Battery testing update	Positive	+3.9%	Albany graphite achieved near-theoretical anode performance in independent Li-ion tests.
Nov 25	Leadership change	Positive	+5.5%	Appointment of Mohammed Jiwan as CEO with associated equity incentives and mandate.
Nov 21	Tax reassessment	Negative	-2.7%	CRA notice of reassessment and potential indemnity exposure linked to flow-through financings.
Nov 05	Product development	Positive	+9.3%	Launch of GraphGel™ fire-retardant and exclusive US licence with Altek.
Oct 06	Nuclear test data	Positive	+8.4%	Albany graphite met multiple nuclear-grade specifications in detailed material testing.

Pattern Detected

Across the last five news events, both positive and negative headlines saw price reactions that aligned with the underlying news tone.

Recent Company History

Over the past few months, Zentek highlighted several technical milestones and corporate developments. On October 6, 2025, Albany graphite met nuclear-grade specs, followed on November 5, 2025 by the GraphGel™ fire-retardant announcement, which drew a 9.3% gain. A CRA reassessment on November 21, 2025 produced a -2.69% move, contrasting with the positive reaction to Mohammed Jiwan’s CEO appointment on November 25, 2025. On December 17, 2025, near-theoretical anode performance added further validation. Today’s nuclear-grade graphite brick results extend this technical derisking theme.

Market Pulse Summary

The stock moved +8.5% in the session following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with Zen...

Analysis

The stock moved +8.5% in the session following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with Zentek’s pattern of favorable responses to technical milestones, such as prior nuclear and battery test updates. The confirmation that Albany graphite bricks met nuclear-grade benchmarks reinforces earlier purity data and expands potential end markets. However, the stock’s position well below its 200-day MA and prior volatility around news suggest that enthusiasm could moderate if commercialization timelines or offtake progress lag future expectations.

Key Terms

ultra-high purity graphite, lithium‑ion batteries, compound annual growth rate, small modular reactors, +3 more

7 terms

ultra-high purity graphite technical

"its ultra‑high purity Albany graphite meets the threshold for applications"

Ultra-high purity graphite is a form of carbon refined to remove almost all impurities, leaving a very clean, consistent material used where performance and safety matter most. Think of it like medical-grade sugar vs. kitchen sugar: the higher cleanliness improves electrical performance and heat control in batteries and electronics, so investors watch its availability and cost because it can directly affect manufacturing quality, product reliability and profit margins.

lithium‑ion batteries technical

"premium lithium‑ion batteries.This follows on previous press releases"

Rechargeable batteries that store electrical energy by moving lithium ions between two electrodes; they power devices by charging (ions move one way) and discharging (ions move back). Think of them as a reusable water tank that fills and empties: their capacity, charging speed, lifespan and safety determine how well products work. Investors care because performance, cost and raw-material supply for these batteries affect product competitiveness, profit margins and company risk.

compound annual growth rate financial

"expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of about 10.5% through 2030"

The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) shows how much an investment or value has grown, on average, each year over a specific period. It considers the effect of growth that compounds or builds upon itself, similar to how interest accumulates in a savings account. Investors use CAGR to compare different investments’ long-term performance and to understand how steady or consistent their growth has been over time.

small modular reactors technical

"applications in nuclear energy (large reactors and small modular reactors)"

Small modular reactors are compact nuclear power plants built from factory-made modules that are assembled onsite, like snapping together building blocks to add or replace capacity. They matter to investors because they aim to lower upfront costs and shorten construction time versus traditional reactors—potentially providing steady long-term power sales and service revenue—while still carrying regulatory, construction and waste-management risks that can affect returns.

near‑net‑shaped graphite bricks technical

"testing to characterize three near‑net‑shaped graphite bricks produced using a blend"

Near-net-shaped graphite bricks are blocks of graphite manufactured to be very close to their final size and form so they need little or no additional cutting or machining. For investors, this matters because making parts closer to final shape cuts manufacturing time, material waste and labor costs, which can improve margins and speed up delivery of products that use graphite parts. Think of it like pouring a cake batter into a mold that already gives you the final shape, rather than carving the cake afterward.

nuclear‑grade graphite technical

"requirements for highly specialized applications such as nuclear‑grade graphite"

Nuclear-grade graphite is a highly purified, tightly controlled form of carbon manufactured to exact standards for use inside certain types of nuclear reactors where it helps control the chain reaction and carry heat. Investors watch it because production is specialized, capital-intensive and regulated, so shortages, long lead times or price swings can affect reactor projects, supply chains and companies that make or rely on this material much like rare, custom-made parts affect car manufacturers.

ppm technical

"equivalent boron concentration of 2.60 ppm, meeting the less‑than‑3‑ppm threshold"

Parts per million (ppm) is a unit that expresses how many units of a substance exist in one million units of a mixture or material — imagine one drop of dye spread through an Olympic-sized pool to picture a very small concentration. Investors watch ppm readings because regulatory limits, product contamination, pollutant emissions or chemical residues often use this scale; small numeric changes can mean compliance problems, remediation costs, production shutdowns or reputational risk that affect a company’s value.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

GUELPH, ON / ACCESS Newswire / January 5, 2026 / Zentek Ltd. ("Zentek" or the "Company") (Nasdaq:ZTEK)(TSXV:ZEN) is pleased to announce that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Albany Graphite Corp. ("AGC"), has received final, positive results indicating that its ultra‑high purity Albany graphite meets the threshold for applications in a range of high-return markets, including: nuclear energy; defense and national security infrastructure; advanced aerospace and hypersonics; and premium lithium‑ion batteries.

This follows on previous press releases (dated September 22, 2025 and October 6, 2025) which confirmed that Albany graphite achieved five‑nines (99.9992%) purity with an equivalent boron concentration of 2.60 ppm, meeting the less‑than‑3‑ppm threshold generally referenced for nuclear applications. The latest independent testing of Albany graphite bricks represents the culmination of the current stage of AGC's nuclear suitability program and further validate Albany's broader ultra‑high‑purity performance. In practical terms, these results re-affirm that the unique Albany graphite material can perform to the same demanding standards as the specialized graphite blocks used in advanced nuclear reactors and other critical systems, a capability historically possessed by synthetic graphite supplied almost entirely from foreign states.

Independent market research estimates that the global ultra‑high‑purity graphite market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of about 10.5% through 2030, driven by lithium‑ion batteries, semiconductors, advanced nuclear reactors and high‑temperature aerospace components. Independent market and policy work further indicates that purified natural graphite is the fastest‑growing part of the natural graphite segment, as advances in purification and processing now routinely bring impurities down into the tens of mg/kg range and enable natural graphite to compete in applications that historically depended on synthetic graphite, while policymakers increasingly favour lower‑carbon, non‑foreign supply in response to ESG and critical‑minerals initiatives in North America and Europe.

Management of the Company believes that the unique Albany material has the potential to target high‑value specialized niches where purified natural material can substitute for synthetic graphite, particularly in nuclear‑grade applications, premium lithium‑ion battery anodes and specialty high‑temperature components, markets which together are expected to require on the order of 100,000-200,000 tonnes per year of purified natural high‑purity graphite over the next 15-20 years. Management believes this positions Albany to become a premier Canadian supplier of purified natural ultra‑high‑purity graphite into these specialty markets. This will decrease Canada's reliance on foreign sources and enhance Canada's security of supply in areas critical to our national defence as well as key strategic sectors.

Independent testing outcome: AGC commissioned independent laboratory testing to characterize three near‑net‑shaped graphite bricks produced using a blend that included up to 3 wt.% of Zentek's ultra‑high purity Albany graphite, together with standard graphite industry inputs. Independent testing confirmed that graphite bricks made with Albany material met the key benchmarks currently used for nuclear‑grade graphite blocks, including strength, density, electrical performance and extremely low impurity levels, demonstrating that Albany graphite can perform at nuclear specifications in finished components.

Strategic implications and next steps: These results further reinforce the potential of Albany graphite across a range of high‑value specialty markets that demand ultra‑high‑purity, secure graphite supply. This includes applications in nuclear energy (large reactors and small modular reactors), defense and national security infrastructure, advanced aerospace and hypersonics, and premium battery and high‑temperature industrial components, where long‑term performance, reliability and traceable supply are increasingly critical. As global demand grows from AI‑driven data centers, electrification and re‑shoring of critical supply chains, Management believes that purified natural ultra‑high‑purity graphite such as Albany's can play an important role as a differentiated feedstock into these key markets.

"We continue to be encouraged by these nuclear suitability testing results, which demonstrate that our unique ultra‑high purity Albany graphite meets and, in some cases, surpasses the stringent requirements for highly specialized applications such as nuclear‑grade graphite," said Mohammed (Moe) Jiwan, CEO of Zentek. "Combined with our proven ability to reach five‑nines purity and our North American resource base, these results support our strategy of positioning Albany as a premier Canadian potential supplier of purified natural graphite to high‑value markets such as nuclear, advanced batteries and other mission‑critical applications. This performance could help support secure North American supply chains for nuclear energy, national defense and high‑performance aerospace systems, reducing reliance on foreign, high‑emissions synthetic graphite."

The Ultra-High Purity Graphite Speciality Market - Indicative Annual Demand ~115 kt/Year Across Key Applications

Mr. Peter Wood, P.Eng., P.Geo., Vice President, Development of AGC, a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101, has approved the technical information contained in this news release.

About the Albany Graphite Project

The Albany Graphite Project is a unique igneous‑hosted, fluid‑derived graphite deposit located in Ontario and advanced to an exploration stage. The project lies northwest of the communities of Constance Lake First Nation and Hearst, Ontario, within approximately 30 km of the Trans‑Canada Highway and near existing infrastructure including roads, rail, power transmission lines and a natural gas pipeline. Albany is being advanced as a potential source of ultra‑high‑purity graphite to potentially support secure North American supply chains for nuclear, energy storage and other advanced material applications.

About Zentek Ltd.

Zentek Ltd. is a Canadian intellectual property development and commercialization company advancing a portfolio of graphene‑enabled and advanced material technologies across healthcare, clean air and next‑generation materials.

For further information

Investor Relations
Email: investorrelations@zentek.com

Ryan Shacklock
Senior VP, Strategy & Business Development
Email: rshacklock@zentek.com
Phone: 306‑270‑9610

To find out more about Zentek, please visit www.zentek.com. A copy of this news release and other material documents in respect of the Company may be obtained on Zentek's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

Forward‑Looking Statements

This news release contains forward‑looking statements. Since forward‑looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward‑looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, operational risks in exploration, development and production; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainties involved in the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits, resources or reserves; the uncertainty of resource and reserve estimates and the ability to economically exploit resources and reserves; the uncertainty of estimates and projections in relation to production, costs and expenses; the uncertainty surrounding the ability of the Company to obtain all permits, consents or authorizations required for its operations and activities; market and regulatory risks; and health, safety and environmental risks.

Although Zentek believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward‑looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Zentek disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward‑looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. Further studies, financing, permits and approvals would be required before a production decision

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.

SOURCE: Zentek Ltd.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

FAQ

What purity level did Zentek's Albany graphite achieve in January 2026 (ZTEK)?

Albany graphite achieved five‑nines purity (99.9992%) with an equivalent boron concentration of 2.60 ppm.

Did independent testing show Albany graphite meets nuclear‑grade standards for ZTEK?

Yes. Independent lab testing of graphite bricks confirmed they met key nuclear‑grade benchmarks for strength, density, electrical performance and impurity levels.

What market opportunity did Zentek (ZTEK) cite for ultra‑high‑purity graphite?

Management cited an estimated 10.5% CAGR to 2030 and projected demand of 100,000–200,000 tonnes/year of purified natural high‑purity graphite over 15–20 years.

Which end markets does Zentek (ZTEK) expect Albany graphite to target after testing?

Zentek expects Albany graphite to target nuclear energy, defense, advanced aerospace/hypersonics and premium lithium‑ion batteries.

How does the 2.60 ppm boron measurement relate to nuclear suitability for ZTEK?

The 2.60 ppm equivalent boron is below the commonly referenced nuclear threshold of 3 ppm, supporting nuclear‑grade suitability.