Focus Graphite Officially Commences Government-Supported Thermal Purification Project to Establish Dual-Use Graphite Production in Canada

Focus Graphite Inc. has initiated a significant government-supported pilot program that marks a pivotal step toward establishing domestic high-purity graphite production in Canada. The company has shipped a six-tonne bulk ore sample from its wholly-owned Lac Knife Graphite Project to SGS Canada's Lakefield facility, officially commencing pilot-scale processing under a $14.1 million non-repayable contribution from Natural Resources Canada's Global Partnerships Initiative.

The pilot program is designed to produce approximately 500 kilograms of graphite concentrate targeting 95% graphitic carbon through batch pilot flotation circuits. SGS will process the material over eight to nine weeks before shipping concentrate to technology partner Thermal & Material Engineer Center for final reactor design work and purification testing. This concentrate will serve dual strategic purposes: supporting engineering specifications for Focus's planned thermal purification plant reactor and enabling customer qualification across battery, defence, and advanced materials sectors.

The initiative addresses Canada's critical minerals strategy by developing an integrated supply chain from resource to high-purity graphite product. High-purity graphite is essential for lithium-ion batteries, energy storage systems, and advanced defence applications, making domestic production capacity strategically important for supply chain security. Government officials emphasized the program's role in building Canadian value chains, creating jobs, and positioning Canada as a trusted supplier in global markets.

Focus is simultaneously evaluating potential host facilities in Quebec and Ontario for its planned thermal purification demonstration plant, assessing industrial infrastructure, utilities access, and permitting pathways. The company's broader portfolio includes the Lac Tetepisca project and innovative battery technologies, including patent-pending silicon-enhanced spheroidized graphite. This pilot program represents a critical de-risking milestone as Focus advances toward commercial demonstration and vertically integrated high-purity graphite production in North America.