South Star Battery Metals Announces Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Alabama - Alabama Mobility and Power Center to Develop Graphite Anode Materials
South Star Battery Metals Announces Memorandum of Understanding
with the University of Alabama - Alabama Mobility and Power Center to
Develop Graphite Anode Materials
THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES
Vancouver, Canada, March 04, 2025 – South Star Battery Metals Corp. (“South Star” or the “Company”) (TSXV:
STS) (OTCQB: STSBF), is pleased to announce that it has completed a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”)
with the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa (“UA”) on behalf of its Alabama Mobility and Power Center (“AMP”)
to develop a binding Definitive Partnership Agreement (“Agreement”) to support a battery anode materials
program in the United States consisting of the following phases:
• R&D Development
• Pilot Demonstration
• Commercial Demonstration
• Commercial-Scale Manufacturing
South Star would be the primary supplier of natural-flake graphite concentrate (“NFGC”) in furtherance of
the Agreements objectives, and AMP ’s internal/house reference natural-flake anode graphite (“AG”)
material. The MOU establishes the conceptual framework for the Agreement and allow s for a 45-day
schedule to negotiate the definitive, binding agreement.
Richard Pearce, CEO of South Star commented, “ We are excited to announce this important strategic
initiative with our UA / AMP partners to advance a concrete, integrated solution to developing high-quality
battery anode testing , development and manufacturing expertise in the United States with world -class
expertise and facilities. UA / AMP and the State of Alabama are creating a unique critical materials
ecosystem to support the rapid advancement of a resilient, more diversified technology and battery supply
chain. South Star is honored to play a role with our partners in developing truly unique critical materials and
technology platforms essential for growth and stability in the coming decades. South Star is committed to
a partnering approach to developing these facilities with a proven, technically robust framework, a quick-
to-market strategy, and a commercially robust business plan.”
Mr. Pearce continued, “Santa Cruz, the first new graphite production in the Americas since 1996, is ramping
up commercial production in Brazil and is a fully licensed, scalable, world -class asset in a proven flake
graphite-producing district. We believe that BamaStar is one of a very select handful of flake graphite assets
in North America that is scalable, financeable, and permittable. It is a project that checks all the boxes with
strong techno-economics (See Nov. 14, 2024 Press Release), U.S Department of Defense funding (See Nov.
29, 2023 Press Release ), great support in the state, reliable power, nearby workforce, strong expansion
potential, excellent infrastructure and logistics, as well as located near numerous potential clients in the
heart of one of the most critical aerospace, defense, and automobile corridors in the contiguous United
States. We look forward to working with UA / AMP on what we believe will be a transformational initiative
essential for graphite materials and anode solutions for the industrial, defense, stationary storage and
energy transition sectors.”
# # #
ABOUT SOUTH STAR BATTERY METALS CORP.
South Star is a Canadian battery-metals project developer focused on the selective acquisition and development
of near-term production projects in the Americas. South Star’s Santa Cruz Graphite Project, located in Southern
Bahia, Brazil is the first of a series of industrial- and battery-metals projects that will be put into production. Brazil
is the second-largest graphite-producing region in the world with more than 80 years of continuous mining. Santa
Cruz has at-surface mineralization in friable materials, and successful large-scale pilot-plant testing (> 30 tonnes)
has been completed. The results of the testing show that approximately 65% of graphite concentrate is +80 mesh
with good recoveries and 95%-99% graphitic carbon (“Cg”). With excellent infrastructure and logistics, South Star
Phase 1 is ramping up commercial production in 2025 . Santa Cruz Phase 1 commercial production has a
nameplate capacity of 12,000 tpy and is the first new graphite production in the Americas since 1996. Phase 2
production (25,000 t py) is partially funded and planned for 2026, while Phase 3 (50,000 t py) is scheduled for
2028.
South Star’s second project in the development pipeline is strategically located in Alabama , U.S.A. in the center
of a developing electric -vehicle, aerospace, and defense hub in the southeastern United States. The BamaStar
Project includes a historic mine active during the First and Second World Wars. A NI 43-101 Preliminary Economic
Assessment was filed on SEDAR+ in November 2024 . Trenching, Phase 1 drilling, sampling, analysis, and
preliminary metallurgical testing have been completed. The testing included a traditional crush/grind/flotation
concentration circuit that achieved grades of approximately 94-99% Cg with approximately 90% recoveries. The
vertically integrated production facilities include a mine and industrial concentrator in Coosa County, AL and a
downstream value-add plant in Mobile, AL, which will be upgrading natural flake graphite concentrates from both
Santa Cruz and BamaStar min es. South Star is executing on its plan to create a multi -asset, diversified battery-
metals company with near -term operations in strategic jurisdictions. South Star trades on the TSX Venture
Exchange under the symbol STS, and on the OTCQB under the symbol STSBF.
South Star is committed to a corporate culture, project execution plan and safe operations that embrace the
highest standards of ESG principles, based on transparency, stakeholder engagement, ongoing education, and
stewardship. To learn more, please visit the Company website at http://www.southstarbatterymetals.com.
ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA - ALABAMA MOBILITY AND POWER CENTER
The Alabama Mobility and Power (AMP) Center is a public -private partnership between The University of
Alabama, Alabama Power Company, and Mercedes -Benz U.S. International, Inc. Focused on advancing battery
technology, charging infrastructure, and power delivery, the AMP Center drives re search, workforce
development, and economic growth in sustainable mobility. By fostering collaboration between industry,
academia, and government, the AMP Center is positioning Alabama as a leader in the EV ecosystem, supporting
innovation and attracting companies across the battery supply chain. To learn more, please visit AMP’s website
at https://amp.ua.edu/.
This news release has been reviewed and approved for South Star by Richard Pearce, P.E., a “Qualified Person”
under National Instrument 43-101 and President and CEO of South Star Battery Metals Corp.
On behalf of the South Star Board of Directors,
MR. RICHARD L. PEARCE,
President & Chief Executive Officer
For additional information, please contact:
South Star Investor Relations
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +1 (604) 706-0212
Website: www.southstarbatterymetals.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/southstarbm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southstarbatterymetals
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/southstarbatterymetals/
YouTube: South Star Battery Metals – YouTube
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT
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 press release.
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities legislation.
Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of
future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express p redictions,
expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not
statements of historical fact and may be “forward-looking statements”. Forward-looking statements in this press
release include, but are not limited to statements regarding production and scaling of operations at Santa Cruz,
as well as advancing the Alabama project, and the Company’s plans and expectations.
Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or
results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related
to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of
legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the
maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for
delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of
profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity
of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential
for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future
exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related
to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties
and business det ailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and
uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially
from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty
to forward -looking statements. These forward -looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the
Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual
events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the
United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within
the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities
laws or an exemption from such registration is available.