Kibaran Resources’ plans for Kwinana graphite processing
Kibaran Resources has flagged plans for a $US22.8 million ($32.8 million) graphite processing plant at Kwinana, representing another component of the area’s growing reputation as Australia’s Lithium Valley.
The West Perth-based aspiring graphite producer this morning announced it had secured a 4ha site for the plant 30km south of Perth as part of a broader strategy of becoming a multi-hub producer of battery-grade graphite, with similar facilities planned for Asia and Europe.
The plant will use the company’s globally patented EcoGraf technology, which eliminates the need for expensive and toxic hydroflouric acid in the purification process.
Kibaran said the Kwinana plant would initially produce 5000 tonnes a year of battery-grade graphite, with a further investment of $US49.2 million to boost annual production to 20,000tpa.
The company said the raw graphite would be sourced from producers in South America, Asia, Africa and Europe with the end-product exported to battery manufacturers in Asia, Europe and the US.
