Titan aims to be first U.S. flake graphite producer in 70 years
Titan Mining Corp. [TI-TSX] said ore feeding has begun at a demonstration facility at its Empire State mine (ESM) in Upstate New York, a development that advances the project toward first graphite concentrate production.
The company is aiming to be the USA’s first end to end producer of flake graphite in 70 years.
The Kilbourne graphite facility is located within Titan’s Empire Mine infrastructure. The fully permitted 1,200 tonnes-per-year of concentrate demonstration plant is now in start-up operation. Output from the facility will enable qualification runs and offtake discussions, accelerating the progression toward commercial scale-up.
The plant is designed eventually to reach 40,000 tonnes per year of graphite concentrate – potentially supplying half of the current U.S. natural graphite demand, as market needs grow. This domestic output addresses critical supply chain vulnerabilities that have materialized given global graphite export restrictions.
“Today is a pivotal moment not only for Titan, but for U.S. critical minerals independence,’’ said Rita Adiani, President and CEO of Titan. “We are delivering on our commitment to re-establish a secure U.S. supply of battery-grade natural flake graphite – a key input for energy storage, defense and strategic industries.”
On Thursday, Titan shares rose 1.9% or $0.06 to $3.16. Titan shares trade in a 52-week range of $4.75 and 36.7 cents.
Titan is already a producer of zinc concentrates at the Empire State Mine. News that ore feeding has begun comes just days after Titan announced positive results from its Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Kilbourne Project and expanded strategic support from the Export Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) under the Make More in America initiative (MMIA).
EXIM has approved an additional US$5.5 million of non-dilutive funding under MMIA, on similar terms as previously announced to accelerate resource drilling, metallurgical test work, and engineering work programs for the feasibility study. This is the first feasibility study for a domestic project funded by EXIM, underscoring the importance of fast-tracking Kilbourne, the company said.
EXIM has also issued a US$120 million non-binding letter of intent expected to cover the majority of the construction capital, materially de-risking financing and underscoring the project’s strategic role in the U.S. national security and defense supply chains.
The Kilbourne Project Study is underpinned by an inferred mineral resource of 22.4 million tons, grading 2.91% Cg (653,000 tons contained graphite), based on a 1.5% Cg cut-off grade. The company said significant exploration upside remains, with only 30% of the known strike length drilled to date.
Titan holds a 100% interest in the ESM. The underground mine and mill complex produces approximately 4.0 million payable pounds per month of zinc contained in concentrate, at an operating cost of around US$0.60 per month.
Aside from Empire State, the company’s assets include the Mineral Ridge property in Esmeralda County, Nevada.