Leading Edge Materials Targets Value Creation Options FOR Woxna Graphite
NEWS RELEASE February 16, 2025
LEADING EDGE MATERIALS CORP.
14th Floor 1040 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC, V6E 4H1
[email protected] | www.leadingedgematerials.com
TSX.V: LEM | Nasdaq First North: LEMSE | OTCQB: LEMIF | FRA: 7FL
LEADING EDGE MATERIALS TARGETS VALUE CREATION OPTIONS FOR WOXNA GRAPHITE
Vancouver, February 16, 2025 – Leading Edge Materials Corp. (“Leading Edge Materials ” or the
“Company”) (TSXV: LEM) (Nasdaq First North: LEMSE) (OTCQB: LEMIF) provides an update for the 100%
owned Woxna Graphite Mine (“Woxna”) in the context of delivering for Europe’s natural graphite needs.
Security of Supply
The drive for secure and stable supply chains is shaping the European natural flake graphite market,
bringing existing production assets like Woxna into focus. Woxna is free to serve both the anode and
industrial markets and could be positioned as a key regional supplier.
On 9 February, the IEA published a commentary ‘Growing geopolitical tensions underscore the need
for stronger action on critical minerals security’. In the coverage, the IEA commented that ‘Today's
markets may be relatively well supplied, but security of supply is far from guaranteed. Trade
restrictions affecting critical minerals have proliferated, notably in the form of export controls applied
by China’ and in the case of natural graphite ‘Reliance on a small number of suppliers increases
vulnerability to shocks and disruptions, even in a well-supplied market’.
Rising Demand
On January 30, 2025, Benchmark Minerals Intelligence published research highlighting the 140%
projected growth in natural graphite demand by 2030, requiring an additional 1.7 million tonnes. Their
calculations suggest that at least 31 new mines must come online worldwide. However, while anode,
cathode, and cell capacity can be developed in less than five years, establishing a new raw material
supply chain can take up to 25 years, underscoring the need for immediate action.
Policy Momentum in the European Union
2024 marked a turning point for European raw materials policy, with the EU taking decisive steps to
secure domestic supply chains. On March 18, 2024, the European Council adopted the Critical Raw
Materials Act (CRMA), a key initiative aimed at developing and supporting critical raw materials
projects across the region. This policy shift strengthens the case for utilizing existing, permitted
graphite resources within Europe.
Woxna’s Strategic Positioning
Woxna is among the few fully built and permitted graphite mines in the region. It includes the
Kringelgruvan Exploitation Concession and three additional satellite deposits—Månsberg, Gropabo,
and Mattsmyra—containing over 1 million tonnes of graphite. With its established infrastructure and
strategic location, Woxna is well-positioned to play a significant role in regional graphite production.
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Pathway to Production Restart
In recent months, interest in restarting Woxna’s flake graphite production has grown. An in-house
study conducted in early 2022 evaluated processing plant upgrades to produce high-quality flake
graphite concentrate for the market. This study will be updated in the second quarter. The Company
believes the updated business plan could support discussions around project financing, customer pre-
payments, and potential Swedish or European public funding.
Opportunities for Forward Integration
Beyond production, the Company sees potential for moving downstream and collaborating with
offtakers to add value through further processing. Such agreements would provide offtakers with a
secure and stable graphite supply, reinforcing their ability to meet end-user demands.
Anode Project 2021 – A Future Option
While the Anode Project 2021 remains a viable long-term opportunity, it is not currently being
pursued. The Company’s primary focus remains on a sustainable restart of Woxna’s production and
securing the mine’s role in the European graphite supply chain.
Kurt Budge, Chief Executive Officer, writes:
“In today’s world, one message rings clear for critical raw materials—security of supply is paramount.
With rising geopolitical tensions and the increasing weaponization of trade through tariffs and export
restrictions, the urgency to establish short, regional supply chains has never been greater.
Woxna stands at the forefront of this shift, positioned for a potential production restart—a move that
aligns with possible forward integration opportunities. Importantly, the Company believes this restart
could be financed with Green Transition funding.
Momentum for Swedish graphite is also growing. In October, Talga Group secured a €70 million EU
Innovation Fund grant for its Luleå Anode Refinery, a key component of its Vittangi Anode Project.
Adding further support, Sweden’s Minister for Energy, Business, and Industry, Ebba Busch, recently
underscored the importance of domestic graphite, stating:
"We have large graphite deposits in Sweden that could account for much of what we [Sweden] and
Europe need for our cars and batteries."
Woxna has been maintained in production-ready status for years, and now, the Company is growing in
confidence that its strategic investment in care and maintenance could be about to pay off. The future
is looking brighter.”
Leading Edge Materials Announces Positive Preliminary Economic Assessment Results for its Woxna
Graphite Anode Project With US$317m Pre-Tax NPV and 42.9% Pre-Tax IRR
https://leadingedgematerials.com/leading-edge-materials-announces-positive-preliminary-economic-
assessment-results-for-its-woxna-graphite-anode-project-with-us317m-pre-tax-npv-and-42-9-pre-tax-
irr/
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On behalf of the Board of Directors,
Leading Edge Materials Corp.
Kurt Budge, CEO
For further information, please contact the Company at:
1.778-374-6727
www.leadingedgematerials.com
About Leading Edge Materials
Leading Edge Materials is a Canadian public company focused on developing a portfolio of critical raw
material projects located in the European Union. Critical raw materials are determined as such by the
European Union based on their economic importance an d supply risk. They are directly linked to high
growth technologies such as lithium-ion batteries and permanent magnets for electric motors and wind
power that underpin the sustainability transition of society. The portfolio of projects includes the 100%
owned Woxna Graphite mine (Sweden), 100% owned Norra Kärr H eavy Rare Earth Elements project
(Sweden), and the 51% owned Bihor Sud Nickel Cobalt exploration alliance (Romania).
Additional Information
The information was submitted for publication through the agency of the contact person set out above,
on February 16, 2025, at 11:30 PM Vancouver time.
Leading Edge Materials is listed on the TSXV under the symbol “LEM”, OTCQB under the symbol “LEMIF”
and Nasdaq First North Stockholm under the symbol “LEMSE”. Mangold Fondkommission AB is the
Company’s Certified Adviser on Nasdaq First North and may be contacted via email [email protected] or
by phone +46 (0) 8 5030 1550.
Reader Advisory
This news release may contain statements which constitute “forward-looking information”, including
statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company, its directors,
or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company. The words “may”, “would”,
“could”, “will”, “intend”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect” and similar expressions, as
they relate to the Company, or its management, are intended to identify such forward -looking
statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forwar d-looking statements are not guarantees of
future business activities and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company’s future business
activities may differ materially from those in the forward -looking statements as a result of various
factors, including, but not limited to, fluctuations in market prices, changes in the Company’s intended
use of proceeds from the Private Placement, successes of the operations of the Company, continued
availability of capital and financing and general economic, ma rket or business conditions. There can be
no assurances that such information will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on
their own evaluation of such uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any
forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the
policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news
release.
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