Talga Group Ltd announced a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Altilium to secure a sustainable supply of graphite for electric vehicle (EV) battery anode products. Under the agreement, Altilium intends to supply Talga with up to 16,000 tonnes of recycled graphite over a three-year period starting in 2026.
Talga, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), is constructing Europe’s first natural graphite anode refinery in Sweden and is developing a recycled graphite anode product to meet the growing demand for this essential material. Graphite constitutes the largest component in EV batteries, accounting for 25-30% of their weight. With the increasing adoption of electric vehicles, graphite demand is projected to rise by 250% between 2023 and 2030, potentially leading to a global supply shortfall of 777,000 tonnes by 2030.
Currently, over 90% of the world’s graphite is refined in China, which implemented export controls on graphite in 2023. This situation has underscored the need for innovative recycling methods to ensure domestic supplies of high-quality graphite required for lithium-ion battery production. Establishing a circular economy for graphite would also help reduce waste and lower carbon emissions compared to traditional mining practices.
Altilium utilizes its EcoAnode™ process to recover 99% of graphite from end-of-life EV batteries. Initial testing indicates that the recycled graphite produced matches the purity and physical characteristics of primary graphite sources. Additionally, the EcoAnode™ process has demonstrated significant reductions in climate change impact, achieving 77% lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to primary graphite production from China.
Altilium plans to establish a large-scale battery recycling facility in Teesside, with the capacity to recover 20,000 tonnes of graphite annually, which would satisfy over 20% of the UK’s graphite demand by 2030. The partnership between Altilium and Talga supports the European Union’s sustainability objectives and aligns with policies such as the Critical Raw Materials Act. This legislation sets a target for sourcing 25% of the EU’s strategic raw materials from recycled sources by 2030.
Source: Altilium
