A planned U.S. source of synthetic graphite for EV batteries has cleared its key environmental permit. Graphite One announced the permit on Nov. 2, and EV Engineering & Infrastructure reported it.
The permit
- Issued by the Ohio EPA and effective Oct. 27, 2026. It is valid until Oct. 27, 2036.
- It covers the Phase 1 plant's four emissions units, from agglomeration and carbonisation to packaging.
- The company calls it the most demanding permit the project needs.
The plan
- Capacity: 10,000 tonnes a year of active anode material, used in lithium-ion batteries for EVs and grid storage.
- Estimated initial cost: $80 million, to be updated after final engineering.
- Final investment decision: targeted for April 2027.
- First commercial sales: targeted for the fourth quarter of 2028, subject to financing and construction.
Financing and supply
The Export-Import Bank of the United States has issued an amended, non-binding $1.4 billion letter of interest. Combined with a second letter, potential EXIM support totals $2.07 billion. Graphite One plans to supply the plant from its proposed Graphite Creek mine in Alaska, targeted for 2030. CEO Anthony Huston said the permit is «an important step toward establishing a domestic synthetic anode material supply chain».
