Automakers are looking to reduce the carbon intensity of the battery materials they use for their electric vehicles, yet graphite presents a key problem for the industry.
Synthetic graphite anode production can be over four times more carbon intensive than natural graphite anode production, due to its use of energy and fossil fuels as a feedstock.
Nearly 70% of graphite mining in Europe took place in Russia and Ukraine. Although Volt Resources resumed their Ukrainian operations earlier this year, the war could impact the stability of Europe’s graphite production.
Madagascar is another alternative graphite supply to China, accounting for nearly 10% of supply today. However, the region suffers from cyclones, one of which halted operations at Tirupati Graphite’s mine in the country earlier this year.
Tirupati Graphite PLC (LON:TGR) is a fully integrated specialist graphite and graphene producer, with operations in Madagascar and India, with a vision of developing a world-leading benchmark flake graphite company.