Nasdaq-listed Graphjet Technology, a developer of patented technologies to produce graphite and graphene directly from agricultural waste, has announced plans to build a commercial artificial graphite production facility in Nevada.

The plant is expected to be a first-of-its-kind in the United States, the company said in a statement released yesterday.

It said the plant was expected to be capable of recycling up to 30,000 metric tons of palm kernel material equivalent – a widely abundant agricultural waste product in Malaysia – to produce up to 10,000 metric tons of battery-grade, artificial graphite per year.

It estimated that the production level could support the production of enough batteries to power more 100,000 electric vehicles (EVs) per year.

The plans come at a time when China, the world's top graphite producer and exporter, has been tightening exports of the key battery material used in nearly all EV battery anodes.

Founded in Malaysia, Graphjet Technology Sdn Bhd has the world's first patented technology to recycle palm kernel shells generated in the production of palm seed oil to produce single layer graphene and artificial graphite.

In addition to producing graphite, the company said its first commercial plant in Malaysia, which was on track to be commissioned in the second quarter of 2024, will process palm kernel shells into hard carbon, which will be shipped to Nevada.

It said this would eliminate a conversion step in Graphjet's production process, which would enable its Nevada facility to produce graphite more quickly.

Graphjet is aiming to commission and begin production at the new facility in 2026, it added.

"As the only pure-play direct agriculture waste-to-graphite technology developer, Graphjet is well positioned to become the leading source of graphite for the U.S. and we are excited to have Nevada serve as our launching pad into this market," said Graphjet CEO/co-founder Aiden Lee in the statement.

He said the company was in discussions with several players to secure offtake agreements for its planned Nevada facility.

Nevada is a strategic location for Graphjet as it is located in close proximity to a large quantity of battery manufacturers and automotive OEMs, which will require a significant amount of graphite for future EV battery production, the company's statement added.

Graphjet said its Nevada manufacturing facility was expected to create more than 500 high skilled labor positions.

It said Graphjet was expected to invest between US$150 million and US$200 million into the facility and was currently evaluating financing and strategic options to fund the plant.

The statement noted that Graphjet's technology produces only 2.95 C02 emissions per KG of graphite, compared to 17 C02 emissions per KG with synthetic graphite in China and even 9.2. C02 emissions per KG with natural graphite in Canada.