Federal Assistant Minister for Resources and Senator for Queensland, Anthony Chisholm will join Queensland Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Dale Last in Townsville today to officially open Graphinex's new Battery Anode Demonstration Facility.
Backed by both the Federal and Queensland Government, the new facility combines Australian science with local industry expertise to develop advanced graphite materials for next-generation lithium-ion batteries.
The new facility is set to process graphite ores sourced from the Graphinex Esmeralda Graphite deposit, located approximately 500 kilometres west of Townsville, and will position the Australian company to become an ultra-high-performance Battery Anode Material (BAM) supplier to the global battery manufacturing market.
Graphite is a critical component not only in electric vehicles, but also in high-performance defence applications, and with global demand for natural graphite forecast to rise 140% by 2030, regional Queensland is in a prime position to service that demand.
Graphinex's new facility was supported by a $3 million Federal Government grant through the International Partnerships for Critical Minerals (IPCM) Program, alongside a $2 million Queensland Government grant through Queensland Critical Minerals and Battery Technology Fund (QCMBTF).
The Albanese Government has funded $40 million in projects since the International Partnerships in Critical Minerals (IPCM) Program opened in February 2024. The program is also part of Australia's broader Critical Minerals Strategy 2023-30 which sets out the government's vision to grow Australia's critical minerals sector.
In 2024, the Albanese Government launched the National Battery Strategy, which sets out the government's plan for building a diverse and competitive domestic battery industry that will improve Australia's economic resilience and security.
Graphinex is also backed by international institutional shareholders Idemitsu and Baramulti, reflecting strong global confidence in its strategic direction.
