EXIM Bank Increases Letters of Interest for the Graphite One Supply Chain to $2.07 Billion EXIM will loan 70% of the total capital cost to production G1 continues discussions with various Departments of the U.S. Government for coordinated participation to complete project financing
EXIM Bank Increases Letters of Interest for the Graphite One Supply
Chain to $2.07 Billion
EXIM will loan 70% of the total capital cost to production
G1 continues discussions with various Departments of the U.S. Government for coordinated participation to complete project financing
G1 management is in discussions with the top 5 investment banks in
North America
to finance the remaining 30% of capital costs
VANCOUVER, BC
,
Dec. 18, 2025
/CNW/ -
Graphite One Inc.
(TSXV: GPH) (OTCQX: GPHOF)
("Graphite One," "G1", or the
"Company")
announced today that it has received amended, non-binding Letters of Interest ("
LoI
") from the Export-Import Bank of
the United
States
("
EXIM
") for potential debt financing. The previously issued EXIM LoI to finance the Company's Graphite Creek Project north of
Nome,
Alaska
(the "
Project
"), is upsized from
$570 million
to
$670 million
, while the EXIM LoI for G1's advanced graphite materials manufacturing plant
planned for northeastern
Ohio
, is upsized from
$325 million
to
$1.4 billion
with a repayment tenor of 15 years under EXIM's Make More in America
Initiative. The upsizing of the
Ohio
facility LoI will support a phased increase in production capacity in 25,000 metric ton increments to an annual
production rate of 100,000 metric tons of anode active material. EXIM's combined LoIs for Graphite One's 100% U.S.-based supply chain solution
now total
$2.07 billion
.
The increases were made after a meeting between Chairman Jovanovic and G1 CEO
Anthony Huston
at EXIM headquarters in
Washington, D.C.
The LoIs are executed through EXIM's "Make More in America" and "
China
and Transformational Exports Program" (CTEP) initiatives.
"Graphite One is building America's graphite supply chain from the ground up—from the largest natural graphite deposit in the country in
Alaska
, to
processing facilities in
Ohio
," said Chairman Jovanovic. "This is exactly the kind of project President Trump's agenda demands: securing critical
minerals, revitalizing American manufacturing capacity, and helping support the jobs of the future across our great country."
"All of us at G1 are so appreciative of the support we are receiving from EXIM under the leadership of Chairman Jovanovic," said
Anthony Huston
.
"There is no reason the U.S. should be dependent on foreign-sourced graphite when we have a generational resource in Graphite Creek anchoring a
100% U.S.-based advanced graphite materials supply chain."
The EXIM meeting took place on the final day of Mr. Huston's
Washington
meetings at the White House as well as with multiple federal departments
and senior U.S. Government officials formulating Critical Mineral policy.
G1 expects to submit a formal application to EXIM under both LOIs in 2026. Upon receipt, EXIM will conduct all requisite due diligence necessary to
determine if a final commitment may be issued for this transaction.
A
ny final commitment is subject to EXIM's eligibility, credit, and approval
requirements and satisfaction of terms and conditions. All final commitments must comply with EXIM policies as well as program, legal and eligibility
requirements.
Given
China's
dominance over global graphite production, the EXIM Letters of Interest indicate the transaction may also be eligible for special
consideration under Section 402 of EXIM's 2019 reauthorization (P.L. 116-94), which directs EXIM to take steps to mitigate the competitive impact
of export support provided by
the People's Republic of China
and other covered countries for opportunities such as this one under EXIM's
CTEP initiative
.
Graphite One's Domestic Supply Chain Strategy
With
the United States
currently 100% import-dependent for natural graphite, Graphite One is developing a complete U.S.-based, advanced graphite
supply chain solution anchored by the Graphite Creek deposit, recognized by the US Geological Survey as the largest graphite deposit in the U.S.
"and among the largest in the world." The Graphite One Project supply chain strategy involves transporting material to the lower 48 via the Port of
Nome
to an anticipated advanced graphite material and battery anode material manufacturing plant to be located in
Warren, Ohio
, subject to project
financing. The plan also includes a potential recycling facility to reclaim graphite and the other battery materials, to be co-located at the
Ohio
site,
the third link in Graphite One's circular economy strategy.
About
Graphite One Inc.
GRAPHITE ONE INC. continues to develop its Graphite One Project (the
"Project
"), with the goal of becoming an American producer of high-grade
anode materials that is integrated with a domestic graphite resource. The Project is proposed as a vertically integrated enterprise to mine and
process natural graphite and to manufacture artificial and natural graphite anode active materials primarily for the lithium
ion electric vehicle battery
and energy storage markets.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
"Anthony Huston" (signed)
For more information on Graphite One Inc., please visit the Company's website,
www.GraphiteOneInc.com
On X @GraphiteOne
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange)
accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Investors should be aware that the LoI is non-binding and conditional and does not represent a financing commitment. A funding commitment is
conditional upon completing the application, due diligence and the underwriting process and receiving all required Project approvals.
All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities
laws. Any statements that are contained in this press release that are not statements of historical facts may be deemed to be forward looking
statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward
looking terminology such as "proposes", "expects", "is
expected", "scheduled", "estimates", "projects", "plans", "is planning", "intends", "assumes", "believes", "indicates", "to be" or variations of such
words and phrases that state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" and
similar expressions which are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements.
Forward-Looking Information includes, but is not
limited to, disclosure regarding possible events, next steps and courses of action including the Company's plans to submit a financing application
to EXIM; the prospects and timing of successfully securing financing from EXIM on acceptable terms, or at all.
Although the Company believes
the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of
future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes,
continuity of mineralization, uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary permits, licenses and title and delays due to third party
opposition, changes in government policies regarding mining and natural resource exploration and exploitation, and continued availability of
capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-
looking information, which is given as of the date it is expressed in this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update
publicly or revise any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable securities laws. For more information on the Company,
investors should review the Company's continuous disclosure filings that are available at
http://www.sedarplus.ca
.
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%SEDAR: 00025247E
For further information:
Anthony Huston, CEO, President & Director, Tel: (604) 889-4251, Email: [email protected]; Investor
Relations Contact: Tel: (604) 684-6730, [email protected]
CO: Graphite One Inc.
CNW 07:00e 18-DEC-25