Blencowe returns exceptional high grade purification testwork results for graphite from Orom-Cross
Blencowe Resources (BRES ) has returned further high-grade purification results from graphite testwork undertaken in association with Alkeemia, a specialist graphite processing organisation based in Porto Marghera, Northern Italy.
This is the first Orom-Cross purification test work conducted within the EU.
The purification testing upgraded all Orom-Cross products to 99.99 carbon content. It is extremely rare for purified graphite to achieve these four-nines.
Four-nines purity is considered the highest purification grade possible and is required for lucrative defence, nuclear and specialist energy applications.
The testing also confirms that purification can take place independently of China.
What’s more, Alkeemia's process offers a cleaner, lower-toxicity and lower-carbon alternative to conventional Chinese technologies.
Discussions have now been opened with Alkeemia regarding potential direct offtake and European purification arrangements.
Orom-Cross has previously achieved 99.99% purity through testwork conducted by American Energy Technology, a US based technical graphite specialist, using their own proprietary thermal process that differs from the chemical-based approach employed by Alkeemia.
The AETC relationship has since evolved to introduce Blencowe a range of valuable niche offtake opportunities, including testing with US Dept of Defence and the EU SAFELOOP initiative.
Blencowe believes that engagement with Alkeemia has the potential to develop in a similar manner providing a gateway to European downstream markets. With AETC and Alkeemia utilising different purification methodologies, the company is also broadening its downstream optionality across multiple high-purity processing routes.
"These purification results are a significant milestone for Orom-Cross and once again demonstrate that our graphite can achieve the very highest purity levels required for specialist applications, including defence, nuclear and strategic energy uses where quality and supply security are critical,” said Cameron Pearce, Blencowe's executive chairman.
“It also opens the potential for a valuable new partnership to develop. Achieving 99.99% carbon content through a non-Chinese, European-based purification route materially enhances the strategic value of Orom-Cross. It positions the project not only as a large-scale, low-cost graphite development, but also as a credible contributor to Western critical mineral supply chains. Importantly, this work adds further upside potential to the economics outlined in our DFS by broadening access to higher-margin, supply-constrained markets. Combined with the scale we continue to demonstrate through drilling, this reinforces Orom-Cross as a long-life, strategically relevant asset as we advance funding and offtake discussions."
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This is the second time an independent party has been able to get Orom-Cross material to the four-nines level. No doubt now that the product is good. Its independence from China will also be welcomed by potential customers in the West, particularly in the defence sector. Blencowe’s shares have been doing very well over the past year or so, as it keeps on hitting milestones, and this latest news adds even more upside to the already robust economics the company has demonstrated for Orom-Cross.