Leading Edge Materials to Participate in Graphite and Graphene Anode Research Project
Leading Edge Materials to Participate in Graphite and Graphene
Anode Research Project
VANCOUVER, BC
,
June 30, 2020
/CNW/ -
Leading Edge Materials Corp.
("
Leading Edge Materials
" or the "
Company
") (
TSXV: LEM
)
(
Nasdaq First North: LEMSE
) (
OTCQB: LEMIF
) announces the participation of its subsidiary Woxna Graphite AB in the newly launched research
project "Graphite and graphene as battery electrodes" (the "Project") which is part of the Vinnova funded competence centre Batteries Sweden
("BASE").
The Project will research the utilization of natural graphite for battery applications through determination of functionality of the natural graphite in
batteries, the addition of silicon to the graphite particles, long-term stability and characterization and optimization of the surface chemistry. The
latter will look at innovative technologies for tailoring of the surface chemistry by for example surface coatings, covalent functionalization and
artificial Solid Electrolyte Interphases.
BASE was created as an alliance for ultrahigh performance batteries with a long-term vision to address the energy storage challenges associated
with the transition to a fossil-free society by developing new types of lightweight, inexpensive, sustainable and safe ultra-high-energy storage
batteries. The competence centre, coordinated by the Ångström Laboratory and the renowned battery scientist Professor
Kristina Edström
at
Uppsala University
, was granted
SEK 34,000,000
in funding by the Swedish governmental innovation agency Vinnova. The partners of BASE are
leading Swedish academic institutions and industrial companies spanning the battery value chain;
Uppsala University
, Chalmers University of
Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, RISE Research Institutes of
Sweden
, ABB, Volvo, Altris, Comsol, Graphmatech, Insplorion,
Northvolt, SAFT, Scania, Stena Recycling, Volvo Cars and Woxna Graphite. (
https://www.batteriessweden.se/
)
Filip Kozlowski
, CEO states
"Being part of this project is a great opportunity for Woxna Graphite to contribute to the long-term vision of the
Batteries Sweden alliance. Being able to supply natural graphite from
Sweden
could enable sustainable high-performance battery materials of
the future. One of the focus areas, surface modification of spherical purified natural graphite is a key area of innovation to enable improved
performance and cycle life for lithium-ion battery anodes."
Woxna Graphite AB is the owner of one of the western world's few permitted and fully built graphite mines, located in central
Sweden
near the
town of Edsbyn. The Woxna graphite mine and production facility is comprised of four graphite deposits each with a mining lease, an open pit mine,
a processing plant and tailings dam, located close to the town of Edsbyn, Sweden. Due to market conditions for traditional graphite markets the
operation has been kept on a production-ready basis. Ongoing development is directed towards test work focused on the possible production and
modification of high purity graphite using thermal purification technologies for emerging high growth high value markets, one such example being the
lithium-ion battery industry. Other potential high-value end-markets being investigated are purified micronized graphite for metallurgical and
electroconductive additives and purified large flake graphite as a precursor for the production of expandable graphite suitable as a feed for graphite
foils and fuel cell bipolar plates. The purification and modification of natural graphite is very energy intensive and having access to low cost low
carbon footprint hydropower offers the potential to become a market leader in terms of sustainability.
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
Leading Edge Materials Corp.
Filip Kozlowski
, CEO
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 and 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
), Norra Kärr HREE project
(
Sweden
), Bergby lithium project (
Sweden
) and the 51% owned Bihor Sud Nickel Cobalt exploration alliance (
Romania
).
Additional Information
The Company's consolidated financial statements and related management's discussion and analysis are available on the Company's website at
www.leadingedgematerials.com
or under its profile on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com
The information was submitted for publication through the agency of the contact person set out above, on
June 30, 2020
at
9:15 am
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
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 forward-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, successes of the operations of the Company, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market 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.
Woxna has never defined a mineral reserve and the previous preliminary economic assessment on Woxna dated
October 29, 2013
, has been
superseded by the Company's current technical report dated
May 11, 2015
. As the Woxna facility is not in production but remains on a
production ready status, any future decision to recommence mining at Woxna will not be based on a preliminary economic assessment
demonstrating the potential viability of mineral resources or feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability.
Under these circumstances, there is increased risk of technical and economic failure for the Woxna project, and the Company discloses
additional risk factors relating thereto. The Company advises that it has not based its production decision on a feasibility study of mineral
reserves, demonstrating economic and technical viability, and, as a result, there may be an increased uncertainty of achieving any particular
level of recovery of minerals or the cost of such recovery, including increased risks associated with developing a commercially mineable
deposit. Historically, such projects have a much higher risk of economic and technical failure. There is no guarantee that production will begin as
anticipated or at all or that anticipated production costs will be achieved. Failure to commence production would have a material adverse impact
on the Company's ability to generate revenue and cash flow to fund operations. Failure to achieve any anticipated production costs would have a
material adverse impact on the Company's cash flow and future profitability. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have
demonstrated economic viability.
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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For further information:
please contact the Company at: 1.604.685.9316, [email protected], www.leadingedgematerials.com
CO: Leading Edge Materials
CNW 12:15e 30-JUN-20