Permit Approved to Advance Graphite Processing Plant in Warren for EV Batteries

Apr 30, 2023

Graphex Technologies in Royal Oak today announced it has secured the necessary environmental permit from the state of Michigan to move forward with final design and equipment orders to provide graphite for use in EVs and giga factories at a processing facility in Warren.

A wholly owned subsidiary of Graphex Group Ltd. in Hong Kong, Graphex Technologies is a leader in mid-stream processing of natural graphite for use in Lithium-ion (Li-ion) powered batteries. The goal is to create a stable domestic supply chain to meet national demand for graphite.

The environmental permit from the Air Quality Division of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, along with local community's endorsement of Graphex's presence, supports the company's efforts to establish Warren as a key player in the refinement and production of battery materials for the Detroit area's emerging electric vehicle (EV) industry.

"Graphex's plant in Warren will bring an influx of new jobs to the area, along with training for the necessary skills and expertise in the fast-growing category of electric vehicle production and the batteries that power them," says Warren Mayor James R. Fouts. "We’re happy to work closely with Graphex to secure local incentives to establish operations in the state of Michigan."

In addition to greenlighting further development of the Warren facility, the permit enables Graphex to continue evaluation of potential locations in and around Warren for a shaping and purifying plant to correspond with its pitch coating plant.

As major car manufacturers continue to make investments in Michigan to expand electrification, the company states a localized end-to-end battery mineral supply chain nearby will be invaluable to reduce potential logistical challenges.

Transforming raw material to finished product, Graphex will provide ready battery anode material for OEMs and giga factories as they ramp up production and meet nearly 400,000 tons of projected yearly demand for graphite.

"Our discussions and negotiations with OEMs and automakers have demonstrated the imminent and yet enormous supply/demand mismatch for graphite, and securing this permit is another milestone in our plans to bring needed end-to-end capabilities to the Detroit area and beyond," says John DeMaio, CEO of Graphex Technologies.

"We stand by our commitment to building out a robust domestic battery mineral supply chain in support of an electrified future and Warren is just the first step of many to come."

Graphex states it has received offers of state and local incentives for the planned graphite processing plant in Warren and will be seeking additional financial support to bring economic benefits and to support job creation in Warren and Michigan.

Graphex is a multinational technology company focused on the development of technologies and products to enhance renewable energy, particularly the refining of natural spherical graphite, synthetic graphite, and graphene-related products — key components in EVs/Lithium-ion batteries as well as in other uses.

The company is currently among the top suppliers of specialized graphite anode material to the EV and renewable energy industries and holds patents in areas including products, production methods, machinery design, and environmental protection.

For more information about Graphex Technologies, visit graphexgroup.com.