Recent US government capital driving America's graphite projects

US federal agencies have emerged as major backers of the country’s graphite anode supply chain. Across August and September, the US Army and Export-Import Bank (EXIM) have provided funding or land for projects that have struggled to secure private investment. In August, EXIM approved a USD $25 million direct loan for Phase I of Westwater Resources' Kellyton, Alabama plant under its Make More in America Initiative. Phase I is designed to produce ~12.5ktpa of coated spherical purified graphite (CSPG). “Loans, land and grants are lowering the cost of building plants, and tariffs are closing most of the running-cost gap,” said Tony Alderson, Research Manager at Benchmark. “With buyers increasingly willing to pay for traceable, non-Chinese material, US projects are closer to competing than headline costs suggest.”