ArcherExploration (ASX:AXE) has penned a deal with Urbix Resources for preliminarypurification testing of graphite from its Campoona Graphite Project to identifygrades suitable for battery and energy storage applications.
Urbix has developed a low-temperature,non-oxidative purification technique which reduces the input costs andenvironmental impacts whilst still yielding graphite grades suitable forlithium-ion batteries and energy storage technology.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)signed is for initial work related to the suitability of AXE's Campoonagraphite using Urbix's proprietary purification processes and notes that considerationwould be given to the joint development of additional purification processoptimisation, technology licensing, and toll processing services for Campoona.
Urbix specialises in all aspects ofthe graphite value chain. They have developed proprietary methods forenvironmentally conscious purification of various graphite and grapheneproducts and advertises that their graphite is the most responsibly produced inthe world. In December 2017, Urbix agreed to buy up to 11,000 tpa of graphiteconcentrate from ASX listed Battery Minerals Ltd (ASX:BAT) in accordance withthe terms of an offtake agreement between the parties.
It should be noted that AXE is anearly stage play and anything can happen, so seek professional financial adviceif considering this stock for your portfolio.
AXE CEO Dr Mohammad Choucair said,"This is a valuable step for Archer in developing relationships with industrypartners. The agreement with Urbix to investigate alternative methods forgraphite refinement could reduce our future operational costs and provideefficient, high-volume processing of the Campoona Graphite Deposit with lowenvironmental impact, whilst still maintaining the 99%+ grades required fordownstream battery technologies."
Get the latest articles straight to your inboxkeep me postedThe deal follows an announcement onApril 6 outlining results from technical analysis undertaken by AXE and TheUniversity of Sydney that confirmed graphite from the Campoona deposit isstructurally near-perfect down to the atomic scale and that the intrinsicphysical properties of the graphite confirm that it is suitable for use inbatteries and the production of graphene.
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