Northern Graphite and Partners Launch German-Funded R&D Program Three Year Program to Develop Cleaner, European Graphite Processing Technology Incorporating Recycled Battery Materials Partners include Rain Carbon Germany GmbH, H.C. Starck Tungsten GmbH, Friedrich
Northern Graphite and Partners Launch
German-Funded R&D Program
Three Year Program to Develop Cleaner, European Graphite Processing Technology
Incorporating Recycled Battery Materials
Partners include Rain Carbon Germany GmbH, H.C. Starck Tungsten GmbH, Friedrich
Schiller University Jena
1.7 million Euro program funded by German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and
Energy
Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 2, 2026) - Northern Graphite Corporation (TSXV: NGC)
(OTCQB: NGPHF) (FSE: 0NG) (XSTU: 0NG) (
"
Northern
")
and partners Rain Carbon Germany GmbH
(
"Rain"
), H.C. Starck Tungsten GmbH and Friedrich Schiller University Jena are pleased to announce
the launch of
USE-G: Environmentally Friendly and Safe Graphite Extraction for Europe's
Battery Industry
, a three-year research and development program funded largely by the German
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.
The initiative is designed to develop new graphite processing technologies that are cleaner, less energy
intensive, and fully independent of Chinese supply chains. The Ministry is contributing €1.14 million
toward the total project budget of €1.70 million.
Graphite is an essential component of lithium-ion batteries, representing as much as forty percent of the
active materials in a typical anode. Today, however, Europe remains almost entirely dependent on China
for the purification, coating and shaping technologies required to transform graphite into battery-grade
material. USE-G aims to change that by advancing a fully European processing route that includes the
purification of natural graphite without the use of hydrofluoric acid, the development of safer and more
sustainable coating materials, and the recovery and reuse of graphite from the black mass generated
during battery recycling.
Under the terms of the program, Northern Graphite will supply the natural graphite required for the project
from its producing mine in Canada and, subject to restart, its mine in Namibia, which is currently on care
and maintenance, both of which produce graphite certified as suitable for battery applications. At its lab
in Germany, Northern Graphite will undertake milling and shaping of the graphite, as well as final battery
testing of the processed materials. In parallel, H.C. Starck Tungsten will provide its innovative technology
to extract graphite from the black mass of spent lithium-ion batteries, enabling this material that is
normally destroyed in conventional recycling processes to be purified, coated and returned to the supply
chain.
Friedrich Schiller University Jena will lead the development of a novel purification method using chlorine
gas, which is significantly cleaner than conventional hydrofluoric acid treatment and less energy intensive
than the high-temperature thermal purification used in parts of the industry today. Although chlorine-
based purification has been proven in other applications, its use for graphite has not yet been fully
explored. USE-G will provide the first systematic evaluation of this technique for both natural and
recycled graphite streams. Purified, the materials will be sent to Rain, which will develop new carbon
coating materials and related sustainable coating processes from carbon raw materials that are
improved alternatives to traditionally used coal tar regarding future availability and environmental impact.
Over the course of the project, natural and recycled graphite will first be processed separately in order to
establish baseline performance and purity levels. Later in the program, the partners will evaluate the
potential for blending recycled and natural graphite into a unified anode material, with the goal of
creating a next-generation European product suitable for commercial qualification by battery
manufacturers. All work will be carried out within Germany at the facilities of the respective partners, with
shipments of natural graphite supplied from Northern Graphite's operations abroad.
Announcing the launch of USE-G,
Northern Chief Executive Officer
Hugues Jacquemin
, said:
"Europe's energy transition depends on secure, sustainable and independent graphite supply chains.
USE-G brings together the best of European research and industrial capability to develop technology
that is cleaner, less energy-intensive and grounded in circular-economy principles. For Northern
Graphite, this project demonstrates how the natural graphite we produce in Canada and Namibia can be
transformed in Europe into next-generation battery materials."
Rain's
role in the USE-G project is to develop sustainable coating materials and related processes
used to coat the graphite particle surface with a thin layer of carbon that improves the electrochemical
performance of the graphite anode material, while both reducing the environmental impact of the battery
material manufacturing process and contributing to build a more sustainable and resilient European
battery ecosystem.
Alexander Zeugner, Project Manager Technology & Innovation Global at
H.C. Starck Tungsten GmbH
,
noted: "Although graphite accounts for a substantial share of battery black mass, it has scarcely been re-
used to date. The USE-G research project, which builds largely on our proprietary black-mass recycling
process, aims to close that gap. If successful, it would make a significant contribution to establishing a
true circular economy for lithium-ion batteries in Europe."
Dr. Martin Oschatz, professor at the Center for Energy and Environmental Chemistry
at Friedrich
Schiller University Jena
, stated: "Our focus is to explore chlorine-gas purification at elevated
temperatures as a cleaner alternative to hydrofluoric acid and a less energy-intensive option than thermal
purification. This research may enable Europe to adopt new purification routes that improve
environmental performance without compromising material quality."
USE-G began January 1, 2026 and will run through December 31, 2029. By the end of the program, the
partners aim to have demonstrated a complete, European-controlled graphite processing flow sheet -
spanning purification, coating, shaping, recycling and performance testing - that supports the continent's
energy-transition goals and its long-term ambition to secure independent, environmentally responsible
supply chains for critical battery materials.
About Northern Graphite
Northern is a Canadian, TSX Venture Exchange listed company that is the only flake graphite producing
company in North America.
Northern is focused on becoming a world leader in producing natural
graphite and upgrading it into high-value products critical to the green economy, including anode
material for lithium-ion batteries/EVs, fuel cells and graphene, as well as advanced industrial
technologies. The Company's mine-to-battery strategy is spearheaded by its Battery Materials Group,
which has a fully equipped, state-of-the-art laboratory in Frankfurt.
Northern's graphite assets include the producing Lac des Iles mine in Quebec, where the Company is
boosting output to meet growing demand from industrial customers and coming demand from North
American battery makers. The Company also owns the large-scale, advanced stage Bissett Creek
graphite project in Ontario and the fully permitted Okanjande graphite mine in Namibia, which is currently
on care and maintenance, and represents an opportunity to substantially increase graphite production at
a lower cost and with a shorter time to market than most competing projects. All projects have "battery
quality" graphite and are located close to infrastructure in politically stable jurisdictions.
About Rain
Rain's German R&D and production sites are in Duisburg and Castrop-Rauxel. The company's carbon
segment converts industrial aromatic by-products from petroleum refining, steel production, and bio-
based and recycled sources into high-value carbon materials, chemical intermediates, hydrocarbon
resins, and aromatic oils that are used in the production of aluminum, steel, pavement sealers, fine
chemicals, refractories, wood preservation, and carbon black in end use applications like automotive,
building and construction, chemicals, polymers, batteries, and tires. The LIONCOAT®, PETRORES®,
and CARBORES® carbon precursors produced at the German site in Castrop-Rauxel are components
used worldwide for electrode materials based on natural graphite, synthetic graphite, and silicon carbon
composites, which are used in lithium-ion batteries.
Learn more at
www.raincarbon.com
.
About H.C. Starck
H.C. Starck is a specialist in the recovery, processing, analytics, and handling of strategic materials. It
comprises H.C. Starck Tungsten GmbH, a leading global producer of custom tungsten powders; the
analytics specialist Chemilytics GmbH; and Chemitas GmbH, which operates as an infrastructure
service provider for the Metallurgy Park Oker at the company's headquarters in Goslar. The H.C. Starck
Group employs roughly 800 people across three production and service sites in Germany, Canada, and
China, as well as sales offices in the United States and Japan. Annual revenue amounts to
approximately EUR 340 million.
About Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Friedrich Schiller University Jena is a dynamic and innovation-driven university centrally located in
Germany. With a broad range of disciplines, it shapes the future through excellent research and
teaching. Its scientific excellence is reflected in its profile
"Light. Life. Liberty."
, which provides
pioneering insights and sustainable solutions for the society of tomorrow. Through close collaborations
with leading research institutions, innovative companies, and renowned cultural organizations, it
advances interdisciplinary developments. With around 17,000 students and approximately 10,000
employees, it defines Jena as a vibrant, internationally connected city of science and innovation.
For media inquiries, contact
For Northern Graphite:
Pav Jordan, VP of Communications
Email:
For Rain Carbon:
Matthew Scott-Hansen, EVP - Corporate
Email:
For H.C. Starck:
Ulrich Gartner, media spokesperson
Email:
+49 171 56 57 953
For Friedrich Schiller University Jena:
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Abteilung Hochschulkommunikation, Bereich Presse und Information
For additional information
Please visit the Company's website at
https://www.northerngraphite.com/home/
, the Company's profile
on
www.sedarplus.ca
our Social Channels listed below or contact the Company at (613) 271-2124.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable
Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information are frequently characterized by
words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "potential",
"possible" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "will",
"could", or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements
regarding, among others, the Company's plans to extend the mine life of its LDI mine, develop its
Baie-Comeau Battery Anode Material facility, intentions to restart the Okanjande mine in Namibia
and development plans for its other projects including Bissett Creek. All such forward-looking
statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by management based on their
experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments,
as well as other factors they believe are appropriate in the circumstances. However, these statements
are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or
results to differ materially from those projected including, but not limited to, unexpected changes in
laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of other parties to
perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; unexpected failure or
inadequacy of infrastructure and the failure of ongoing and contemplated studies to deliver
anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued studies, development or
operations and the inability to raise required financing. Readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on forward-looking information or statements.
Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based on what
management believes are reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that
actual results will be consistent with them. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date
of this news release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject
to applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the
forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the
date of this news release.
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
news release.
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https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/282328