Focus Graphite Highlights Strategic Alignment with White House Executive Order to Secure U.S. Defense Supply Chains Focus highlights integrated Canada-U.S. graphite value chain proposal submitted under U.S. Department of War critical
Focus Graphite Highlights Strategic Alignment
with White House Executive Order to Secure
U.S. Defense Supply Chains
Focus highlights integrated Canada-U.S. graphite value chain
proposal submitted under U.S. Department of War critical
minerals initiative
Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 23, 2026) -
Focus Graphite Inc. (TSXV: FMS) (OTCQB:
FCSMF) (FSE: FKC0)
("
Focus
" or the "
Company
"), a Canadian advanced graphite materials
company, today highlighted the strategic alignment between its long-term strategy and the White House
Executive Order, "
Securing America's Defense Supply Chains and Ensuring Domestic Acquisition of
Critical Materials
"
(the "
Executive Order
").
Issued on July 20, 2026, the Executive Order establishes as U.S. policy that military equipment, together
with the critical materials required to manufacture, maintain and sustain it, should be sourced
domestically or from allied nations. It directs the U.S. Department of War ("
DoW
") to strengthen supply-
chain transparency, identify strategic vulnerabilities, reduce dependence on unreliable foreign suppliers
and accelerate the qualification of alternative sources. The Executive Order also calls for critical supply
chains to be traced from raw-material origin through end use and requires contractors to actively qualify
compliant domestic and allied sources where supply-chain vulnerabilities are identified.
The strategic urgency is particularly acute for graphite. According to the U.S. Geological Survey's
("
USGS
")
Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025
, the United States was 100% net import reliant for
natural graphite in 2024, with an estimated 43% of U.S. consumption met by imports from China on
average between 2020 and 2023. At the downstream level, the International Energy Agency's ("
IEA
")
Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2026
estimates that China accounts for more than 90% of global refined
graphite production, making processing one of the most significant bottlenecks to diversifying allied
supply chains. These overlapping dependencies have elevated graphite from a battery material to an
increasingly important strategic material supporting defence, advanced manufacturing, energy security
and emerging technologies.
Focus believes these priorities align directly with its strategy of combining premium North American
graphite resources, clean hydroelectric-powered processing, advanced purification and downstream
advanced materials development through strategic partnerships to build a resilient graphite supply chain
less dependent on concentrated foreign processing capacity.
"The White House has made the mission clear: know the source, secure the chain and qualify allied
supply," said Dean Hanisch, Chief Executive Officer of Focus Graphite. "The technologies defining
modern economic and national security-including drones, autonomous systems, AI infrastructure,
advanced nuclear energy and resilient energy storage-depend on materials that remain concentrated in
foreign supply chains. Focus is well positioned to help build more resilient supply chains that address
those vulnerabilities."
Proposal Submitted Under U.S. Department of War Critical Minerals Initiative
Earlier this year, Focus submitted a proposal for the Lac Knife Project under the DoW's Defense
Industrial Base Consortium ("DIBC") solicitation, "
RPP-CM-26-01 - Domestic Processing Capabilities
of Critical Minerals
," which seeks to strengthen domestic and allied critical mineral supply chains
supporting U.S. defence applications.
The Proposal presented Lac Knife as the foundation of a secure North American graphite supply chain,
supported by the Project's high-grade Canadian natural graphite resource, completed
2023 NI 43-101
Feasibility Study
, scalable development profile and established transportation infrastructure. It also
contemplated downstream upgrading with a proven U.S. project partner as part of an integrated cross-
border supply-chain strategy.
The Company believes the Proposal supports the objectives of the initiative and reflects the same
strategic priorities reinforced by the Executive Order. Focus will provide further updates, as appropriate,
regarding the U.S. Government's ongoing evaluation process.
An Integrated North American Graphite Platform
Focus's integrated North American graphite platform combines three core capabilities that support
secure allied supply chains:
Premium Graphite Resources
- Lac Knife, North America's highest-grade natural flake graphite
project with a completed Feasibility Study, and Lac Tetepisca, one of the largest graphite resources in
the Americas, provide a unique combination of near-term development readiness and long-term
resource scale, forming the foundation for a secure North American supply of natural graphite.
Advanced Purification
- Focus is advancing an electrothermal purification pathway designed to
produce ultra-high-purity graphite while eliminating the acids and halogen gases associated with
conventional chemical purification.
Advanced Materials Development
- Focus is advancing downstream qualification programs across
battery, defence, nuclear and other advanced industrial applications. Through strategic partnerships,
including collaborations with U.S.-based technology partners Charge CCCV LLC ("
C4V
") and Forge
Nano Inc. ("
Forge Nano
"), the Company is evaluating pathways to battery anode materials and other
high-value graphite products.
Recent testing demonstrated that Lac Knife graphite concentrate can be thermally purified to 99.9996
wt.% carbon purity (5N+)
,
highlighting its suitability as a premium feedstock for evaluation in demanding
defence, nuclear, energy storage and other advanced industrial applications.
"The opportunity begins with premium graphite concentrate but extends far beyond it," said Jason
Latkowcer, Vice President, Corporate Development. "Lac Knife's exceptional grade gives us the
flexibility to create value at multiple points across the supply chain, from premium concentrate to qualified
advanced materials. Our grade creates optionality. Our strategy creates value."
Focus's integrated North American graphite platform has also been supported by approximately C$15.4
million in non-dilutive funding commitments from the Government of Canada, including support for
electrothermal graphite purification technology and critical infrastructure planning for the Lac Knife
Project.
Looking Forward
Focus will continue advancing Lac Knife through permitting and toward its potential development as one
of North America's next producing graphite mines. The Company will also advance engineering of its
electrothermal purification technology, progress technical studies at Lac Tetepisca and expand
engagement with U.S. government stakeholders and defence, technology and industrial partners to
support customer qualification and strengthen secure North American and allied graphite supply chains.
Qualified Person
The technical content disclosed in this news release was reviewed and approved by Rejean Girard,
P.Geo. (QC), President of IOS Geosciences Inc., a consultant to the Company, and a qualified person
as defined under National Instrument NI-43-101.
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, defense, 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 an 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/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/focusgraphite
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, among other things:
the anticipated implications of the White House Executive Order and related U.S. critical minerals
policies; the Company's proposal submitted under the U.S. Department of War's Defense Industrial
Base Consortium ("DIBC") solicitation and the ongoing evaluation thereof; the advancement of the
Lac Knife Graphite Project, including permitting, engineering, infrastructure development and
potential future construction and production; the advancement of the Lac Tetepisca Graphite Project
and related technical studies; the advancement, scale-up and commercialization of the Company's
electrothermal graphite purification technology; the production of high-purity and ultra-high-purity
graphite and other value-added graphite materials; the qualification, validation and commercialization
of the Company's graphite products for defence, nuclear, battery, energy storage, advanced
manufacturing and other industrial applications; the development of integrated Canada-U.S., North
American and allied graphite value chains; the receipt and utilization of government funding and
support programs; the Company's ability to establish and expand strategic partnerships, customer
relationships, qualification programs, supply agreements, offtake arrangements and other
commercial opportunities; and the timing, scope and results of future technical programs, engineering
activities, customer evaluations and commercial initiatives.
Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions that management believes are
reasonable as of the date of this press release, including assumptions regarding the continued
advancement of the Company's projects; the availability of financing and government support; the
successful development of strategic partnerships and customer relationships; the performance and
commercialization of the Company's technologies; continued demand for secure allied critical
mineral supply chains; the timely receipt of regulatory approvals and permits; and prevailing
economic, market and regulatory conditions.
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 include, but are not limited to: the possibility that the
Company's proposal submitted under the DIBC solicitation will not result in additional evaluation,
negotiations, funding, contract awards or other governmental support; changes in government
policies, priorities or procurement programs; changes in economic, financial or market conditions; the
availability of financing on acceptable terms or at all; risks associated with mineral exploration, project
development, permitting, engineering, commercialization and operations; the performance and
scalability of the Company's technologies; the ability to establish commercial relationships and
strategic partnerships; and the other risks described from time to time in the Company's public
disclosure documents available under its profile on SEDAR+.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-
looking information contained in this press release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company
undertakes no obligation 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.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit
https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/306223