Focus Graphite Officially Commences Government-Supported Thermal Purification Project to Establish Dual-Use Graphite Production in Canada $14.1M NRCan-Funded Program Begins with Six-Tonne Bulk Sample to Produce 500 kg High-Purity Graphite for Reactor
Focus Graphite Officially Commences
Government-Supported Thermal Purification
Project to Establish Dual-Use Graphite
Production in Canada
$14.1M NRCan-Funded Program Begins with Six-Tonne Bulk
Sample to Produce 500 kg High-Purity Graphite for Reactor
Engineering and Product Validation
Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 2, 2026) -
Focus Graphite Inc. (TSXV: FMS) (OTCQB:
FCSMF) (FSE: FKC0)
("
Focus
" or the "
Company
"), a Canadian developer of high-grade flake
graphite deposits and advanced graphite materials for battery, defence, and industrial applications, is
pleased to announce that it has shipped a six-tonne bulk ore sample from its 100%-owned Lac Knife
Graphite Project ("
Lac Knife
" or the "
Project
") to SGS Canada Inc. ("
SGS
") in Lakefield, Ontario,
officially commencing pilot-scale processing under its Natural Resources Canada ("
NRCan
") funded
demonstration program. The program is designed to produce approximately five hundred (500)
kilograms of graphite concentrate to support downstream thermal purification, final reactor engineering,
and product validation initiatives.
The six-tonne sample will undergo crushing, blending, head assays and metallurgical benchmarking prior
to pilot-scale processing. SGS will operate a batch pilot flotation circuit to generate high-grade graphite
concentrate targeting approximately 95% graphitic carbon. Final concentrate will be dried and screened
into size fractions suitable for subsequent purification testing. The Company anticipates that concentrate
will be produced and shipped to its technology partner, Thermal & Material Engineer Center ("
TMEC
"),
within approximately eight to nine weeks to support the commencement of final reactor design work, with
the balance of the three-month program consisting primarily of data compilation and reporting activities.
As previously announced on December 8, 2025, the Company formalized a funding agreement for up to
$14.1 million in non-repayable contributions under NRCan's Global Partnerships Initiative ("
GPI
"). The
Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources said, "As global demand for critical
minerals accelerates, Canada is ready to lead. Focus Graphite's work at Lac Knife shows how we can
build a fully Canadian value chain-from resource to high-purity graphite-and strengthen our economic
security in the process. Advancing pilot-scale processing here at home supports good jobs, attracts
investment and reinforces Canada's position as a trusted supplier in a changing world."
Claude Guay, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, added,
"Today's progress at Lac Knife shows how Canadian companies are translating ambition into action. By
advancing pilot-scale processing here in Canada, Focus Graphite is helping build the downstream
capacity that supports good jobs, strengthens regional economies and positions Canada to supply the
advanced materials our partners rely on."
Richard Pearce, Technical Advisor to Focus, stated, "SGS Lakefield is a globally recognized leader in
mineral processing and pilot-scale metallurgical testing and has extensive familiarity with the Lac Knife
flowsheet. This bulk sample program represents a key milestone as we advance Lac Knife toward
vertically integrated, high-purity graphite production in Canada. Generating pilot-scale concentrate
materially de-risks scale-up and accelerates our pathway toward commercial demonstration."
The concentrate generated through this program will serve two primary strategic objectives. Material
shipped to TMEC will support final engineering, detailed design optimization and preparation of
construction-level specifications for the Company's thermal purification plant reactor, representing a
critical step toward fabrication and demonstration-scale production. In parallel, a portion of the
concentrate will be retained for customer qualification and product validation initiatives, enabling
engagement with potential end users across battery, defence, and advanced materials sectors.
Together, these workstreams advance Focus' objective of establishing an integrated, Canadian supply
chain pathway from resource to high-purity graphite product.
High-purity graphite is an essential material used in lithium-ion batteries, energy storage systems,
advanced defense applications and high-technology manufacturing. Establishing domestic production
capacity for graphite concentrate and purification is increasingly viewed as strategically important for
supply chain security, advanced manufacturing competitiveness and energy transition objectives.
In parallel with metallurgical testing, Focus has conducted site visits to multiple potential host facilities in
Quebec and Ontario for installation of its planned thermal purification demonstration plant. The Company
is actively evaluating existing industrial infrastructure, utilities access, logistics networks and permitting
pathways as it advances final reactor design in collaboration with its technology partner.
The Company will provide further updates as pilot-scale processing progresses and as additional
milestones are achieved.
Qualified Person
The technical content disclosed in this news release was reviewed and approved by Richard Pearce,
PE, President of Brasil Insight Capital LLC., 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 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, among other things,
the completion and timing of the six-tonne bulk sample program at SGS; the anticipated production of
approximately 500 kilograms of high-grade graphite concentrate; the expected performance and
outcomes of pilot-scale flotation and purification testing; the use of concentrate to support reactor
engineering, purification demonstration and product validation activities; the advancement of a
Canadian-based graphite purification demonstration facility supported by NRCan's GPI; the
development of a vertically integrated graphite supply chain in Canada; and the Company's plans
and objectives for the Lac Knife Project.
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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