VANCOUVER, BC – Graphite One Inc. on Tuesday, May 19, announced a significant milestone in its U.S. growth strategy, securing a site for its Active Anode Materials (“AAM”) facility in Ohio while continuing to advance toward development plans and customer qualification.
Graphite One has secured a site in Conneaut, Ashtabula County, through a license of occupation agreement with Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad Company, a subsidiary of Canadian National Railway (“CN”), according to a press release.
The site provides several strategic advantages, including:
• Direct access to Lake Erie and the Great Lakes shipping corridor
• Multi-line rail connectivity through CN
• Existing power infrastructure, including an on-site substation
• Capacity for future expansion and scaling
“This site provides the infrastructure, logistics access, and scalability required to support long-term growth,” said COO Mike Schaffner. “It positions the Company to efficiently move material and expand production capacity as market demand develops.”
The agreement allows the Company to complete due diligence activities on the site and, subject to Graphite One’s satisfactory review, proceed with formalizing a lease agreement.
“Given this new opportunity and the challenges associated with establishing the necessary power infrastructure at the Warren, Ohio, site within the Company’s proposed construction timeline, the Company has decided to terminate the current lease on the Warren property to focus its efforts on the Conneaut location,” reads the press release.
Graphite One is advancing development plans for an Ohio finishing and blending facility, which is one of the three processing facilities that together comprise the AAM facility with the targeted milestone:
• Construction completion targeted for Q4 2027
• Initial production capacity of 10,000 tonnes per year (“Phase One Production”)
Phase One Production is expected to include:
• 4,000 tonnes of energy storage material
• 3,000 tonnes of fast-charging material
• 3,000 tonnes of high-energy-density material
These materials are intended for use in lithium-ion battery applications supporting electric vehicles, grid-scale energy storage, and emerging data center infrastructure demand.
“We now have a defined path from site control through development to production and customer engagement,” said CEO Anthony Huston. “Our objective is to establish a vertically integrated, U.S.-based supply chain capable of supporting long-term North American battery demand.”
In parallel with Phase One Production, the Company is evaluating a second-phase expansion that would target:
• Construction completion in Q3 2028
• Graphitization capacity of 25,000 tonnes per year
The expansion would further position Graphite One as a potential domestic supplier of active anode materials at a time when North American supply chains continue to seek localized sources of critical battery inputs.
Graphite One has delivered commercial-grade anode material samples, including quantities of up to 20 kilograms, to:
• Three major electric vehicle manufacturers
• Three leading battery companies
All counterparties are currently conducting specification testing.
In parallel, the Company has entered into discussions regarding potential binding offtake agreements with select participants involved in the sample evaluation process.
“We are encouraged by the level of engagement taking place with prospective customers,” added Mr. Huston. “The ongoing evaluation process and commercial discussions represent important steps toward establishing long-term customer relationships.”
Graphite One’s development strategy links its Graphite Creek resource in Alaska — identified by the U.S. Geological Survey as the largest graphite deposit in the United States and among the largest globally — with downstream processing capabilities in Ohio.
The Company believes this vertically integrated model aligns with growing North American efforts to localize critical mineral and battery material supply chains.
“As governments and industry continue prioritizing domestic supply chain development, we believe Graphite One is well positioned to participate in this structural market shift,” said Mr. Huston.
Construction and development activities for the Ohio facility remain subject to financing, permitting, power agreements, equipment procurement, regulatory approvals, and other customary development conditions.
The United States is currently 100-percent import-dependent for natural graphite. Graphite One is developing a fully integrated U.S.-based supply chain anchored by the Graphite Creek deposit – recognized by the U.S. Geological Survey as the largest graphite deposit in the U.S. and among the largest globally. The strategy includes:
• Mining at Graphite Creek (Alaska)
• Transport via the Port of Nome
• Processing into advanced graphite and anode materials in Ohio
• Potential co-located recycling facility to recover graphite and other battery materials
This integrated approach positions Graphite One to become a cornerstone supplier in a domestic, circular battery materials economy.
