Focus Graphite Executes Funding Agreement for $14.1M under Natural Resources Canada's Global Partnerships Initiative NRCan's $14.1M Federal Investment Accelerates Focus Graphite's Capacity to Supply Allies with Ultra-High-Purity
Focus Graphite Executes Funding Agreement
for $14.1M under Natural Resources Canada's
Global Partnerships Initiative
NRCan's $14.1M Federal Investment Accelerates Focus
Graphite's Capacity to Supply Allies with Ultra-High-Purity
Graphite for Defence, Aerospace, and Next-Generation Battery
Materials.
Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 8, 2025) -
Focus Graphite Inc. (TSXV: FMS) (OTCQB:
FCSMF) (FSE: FKC0)
("
Focus
" or the "
Company
"), a leading developer of high-grade flake graphite
deposits and innovator of next-generation lithium-ion battery technology, is pleased to announce that it
has moved from conditional approval to a fully executed, non-repayable contribution agreement (the
"
Agreement
") with Natural Resources Canada ("
NRCan
") for funding up to $14,062,500 under the
Global Partnerships Initiative ("
GPI
").
The Agreement formalizes the federal government's support for Focus Graphite's project titled:
"
Transformation of Canadian Flake Graphite into Ultra-High Purity Battery & Advanced Materials
Using Electrothermal Fluidized Bed Technology
" (the "
Project
"). The Project unites Canadian,
Ukrainian, and U.S. partners to produce ultra-high purity graphite for global battery, aerospace, defence,
and advanced material markets.
The Agreement provides non-dilutive funding for the development, piloting, and commercial
demonstration of Focus's clean electrothermal purification process, enabling conversion of Quebec
sourced natural flake graphite into ultra-high purity anode and advanced materials products. The Project
also advances broader NATO, G7, and European policy objectives for secure, diversified, and ESG
aligned critical mineral supply chains.
Once complete, the demonstration system is expected to produce purified graphite at volumes sufficient
not only for downstream qualification, but also scalable to supply meaningful quantities to defence,
aerospace, energy storage, and advanced materials markets. This production capability represents a
major step toward commercial readiness and supports the Company's downstream strategy by enabling
Focus to deliver high purity material for evaluation and early market entry while continuing to advance its
mining projects and longer-term processing infrastructure.
"Execution of this Agreement significantly strengthens Focus Graphite's ability to help supply our allies
with secure, ESG aligned, high purity graphite," said Dean Hanisch, Chief Executive Officer. "Chinese
graphite is currently embedded throughout North American military, aerospace, and energy systems,
creating strategic vulnerabilities across the entire allied value chain. The ability to produce ultra-high
purity material domestically, and process it using a clean, chemical free purification method, positions
Focus to directly support the shift toward reliable, non-Chinese sources of strategic critical minerals."
"This Agreement unlocks our ability to move qualified graphite samples to international partners at a
much faster pace, which is essential for advancing offtake discussions," said Jason Latkowcer, Vice
President of Corporate Development
.
"We will continue to advance our Lac Knife and Lac Tetepisca
projects while simultaneously delivering the high-purity material that allied partners require to validate
Canadian graphite within their defence, aerospace, energy storage, and advanced-materials supply
chains."
"Advancing research and development is essential to securing resilient and sustainable critical mineral
supply chains. Through the G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan, we continue to work with trusted partners to
deliver innovative projects—like the progress achieved by Focus Graphite-that reinforce Canada's
decades-long leadership in the mining space, which allows us to supply our allies and become an
energy superpower while reducing emissions," said the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy
and Natural Resources.
Federal Funding Details
Under the executed Agreement, NRCan will provide up to $14,062,600 in non-repayable funding,
representing approximately 73.6% of total eligible project costs. Focus Graphite will contribute
$4,787,500 in cash and an additional $250,000 in in-kind contributions toward the Project. The eligible
expenditures period extends from October 14, 2025 through March 31, 2028, during which the Company
will execute all approved Project activities.
Funding will support the full work program outlined in the Agreement, including feedstock preparation,
pilot-scale metallurgical processing, electrothermal purification trials, feasibility study, and the
engineering, procurement, installation, and commissioning, and demonstration of a commercial
demonstration furnace.
Advancing a North American, Sovereign Supply Chain
This federal investment advances Focus Graphite's objective of establishing a secure, fully North
American graphite and advanced materials supply chain. The Project is specifically structured to reduce
reliance on Chinese processing routes and aligns with critical mineral strategies aimed at enhancing
energy security, industrial resilience, and defence readiness. The ultra-high purity graphite produced
through this initiative is expected to supply key downstream sectors prioritized by Canada and its allies,
including defence and aerospace, energy storage, electric vehicles, advanced materials, and anode
production.
About Focus Graphite Advanced Materials Inc.
Focus Graphite Advanced Materials is redefining the future of critical minerals with two 100% owned
world-class graphite projects and cutting-edge battery technology. Our flagship Lac Knife project stands
as one of the most advanced high-purity graphite deposits in North America, with a fully completed
feasibility study. Lac Knife is set to become a key supplier for the battery, defence, and advanced
materials industries.
Our Lac Tetepisca project further strengthens our portfolio, with the potential to be one of the largest and
highest-purity and grade graphite deposits in North America. At Focus, we go beyond mining - we are
pioneering environmentally sustainable processing solutions and innovative battery technologies,
including our patent-pending silicon-enhanced spheroidized graphite, designed to enhance battery
performance and efficiency.
Our commitment to innovation ensures a chemical-free, eco-friendly supply chain from mine to market.
Collaboration is at the core of our vision. We actively partner with industry leaders, research institutions,
and government agencies to accelerate the commercialization of next-generation graphite materials. As
a North American company, we are dedicated to securing a resilient, locally sourced supply of critical
minerals - reducing dependence on foreign-controlled markets and driving the transition to a sustainable
future.
For more information on Focus Graphite Inc. please visit
http://www.focusgraphite.com
.
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/focus-graphite/
X:
https://x.com/focusgraphite
Investors Contact:
Dean Hanisch
CEO, Focus Graphite Inc.
+1 (613) 612-6060
Jason Latkowcer
VP Corporate Development
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These
statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could," "intend,"
"expect," "believe," "will," "projected," "estimated," and similar expressions, as well as statements
relating to matters that are not historical facts, are intended to identify forward-looking information and
are based on the Company's current beliefs or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such
future events.
In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information regarding, without limitation: (i)
the anticipated benefits, timing, and potential outcomes of the Global Partnerships Initiative ("GPI")
funding award and the contribution agreement with Natural Resources Canada; (ii) the design,
development, construction, commissioning, and operation of the Company's proposed electrothermal
purification demonstration facility; (iii) the timing, scope, and success of technical collaborations with
Thermal & Material Engineering Center LLC ("TMEC") of Ukraine, the University of Texas at Dallas's
BEACONS battery prototyping facility, American Energy Technologies Co. ("AETC"), and other
potential partners; (iv) the Company's ability to advance pilot-scale and commercial-scale testing,
including the purification of graphite concentrates to ultra-high-purity specifications; (v) the ability to
accelerate the movement of qualified graphite samples to international partners and the potential
advancement of downstream or international offtake discussions; (vi) the possibility that Lac Knife and
Lac Tetepisca may become future contributors to North American, NATO, G7, or EU-aligned critical-
mineral supply chains; and (vii) expectations regarding the scalability, cost-effectiveness,
environmental performance, ESG alignment, and commercial viability of the Company's purification
technology.
Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors
that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed
or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks
related to market conditions, regulatory approvals, changes in economic conditions, the ability to
raise sufficient funds on acceptable terms or at all, operational risks associated with mineral
exploration and development, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's public
disclosure documents available under its profile on SEDAR+.
The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and the
Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of
new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because
of the risks, uncertainties, and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue
reliance on forward-looking information.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
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https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/277244