TORONTO, ONTARIO–(Marketwired – Oct. 13, 2016) – Alabama Graphite Corp. (“AGC” or the “Company“) (TSX VENTURE:ALP) (OTCQX:ABGPF) (FRANKFURT:1AG) is very pleased to announce that it has provided eight different American-sourced and manufactured natural graphite product samples to Stanford University (“Stanford“), located in Stanford, California, USA. The graphite samples, which originated from AGC’s Coosa Graphite Project located in east-central Alabama, USA, will be used for Department of Chemistry Professor, Dr. Hongjie Dai‘s continued work on Aluminum-ion (“Al-ion“) battery development and more specifically, large-scale Al-ion battery development. As requested by Dr. Dai, the processed graphite products conveyed by AGC consisted of downstream and processed graphite samples of various size fractions with purity levels reaching as high as 99.98% Ct. The samples were manufactured utilizing multiple downstream (post primary production) processes to produce specialty graphite products for potential use in batteries. The downstream processes applied to the Company’s unfinished primary processed graphite concentrate included: low-temperature halogen-gas-based purification, classification, micronization, spheronization, and surface treatment (coating).
Dr. Dai commented positively concerning AGC’s downstream, non-polluting, low-temperature thermal purification process for purifying the Company’s graphite to 99.95% Ct and higher – without the use of dangerous and environmentally harmful hydrofluoric acid (as is commonly used in graphite production in China) or costly high-temperature thermal upgrading and purification (see September 29, 2015 announcement, ‘Alabama Graphite Corp. Achieves Purity of 99.99% Graphitic Carbon-Across All Flake Sizes-From Preliminary Purification Trials‘).
Dr. Dai and his group of Stanford scientists made significant news in April 2015 when they announced the invention of the first high-performance Al-ion battery that is faster charging, longer lasting and inexpensive when compared with many commonly-used commercial batteries (source: http://news.stanford.edu/2015/04/06/aluminum-ion-battery-033115/). The Al-ion battery was made of aluminum and graphite. It is not yet commercially available. “We have developed a rechargeable aluminum battery that may replace existing storage devices,” commented Dr. Dai, who described his novel Al-ion battery as an “ultrafast” rechargeable battery with reported “unprecedented charging times.” The Stanford team was able to charge a smartphone to full capacity in one minute with the Al-ion battery prototype, as opposed to hours with a conventional Li-ion (secondary or rechargeable) battery. In comparison with many commercial batteries that are widely-used today, the prototype Al-ion battery has good capacity and outstanding cycle life, with no decay (capacity fade) even after 7,500 cycles. Grid-scale energy storage to manage electricity supply would benefit significantly from batteries that could withstand repeated cycling of discharging and charging. Current Li-ion batteries have comparatively limited lifetimes of only 1,000 to 3,000 cycles, which is adequate for the lifespan of most smartphone and home electronic products, but not ideal for long-life energy grid infrastructure applications. Financial support for Dr. Dai’s Al-ion battery research at Stanford was provided to Stanford University by the United States Department of Energy (“DOE“). AGC has not received any funding from the DOE and AGC did not receive any funds from Stanford University in exchange for the graphite products samples that were provided.
The primary difference between a conventional Li-ion battery – consisting of a graphite anode and a nickel cathode – and Stanford’s Al-ion battery is that the Al-ion battery consists of two electrodes: a negatively-charged anode made of aluminum metal and a positively charged cathode made of graphite. Dr. Dai’s research at Stanford provides a new approach to potentially enable fast-charging, bendable and durable aluminum-ion batteries, and may possibly lead to more affordable, safer batteries in the future (source: http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/plugged-in/stanford-researchers-unveil-new-ultrafast-charging-aluminum-ion-battery/).
Donald Baxter, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Executive Director, of AGC stated, “We are honored to be working with Stanford University – one of the world’s most prestigious universities – and the world-renowned Dr. Dai with a myriad of our U.S.-sourced graphite product samples for this potentially ground-breaking battery research and development.
“While we firmly believe that lithium-ion batteries will remain the rechargeable battery technology of choice for the foreseeable future, the potential of Dr. Dai’s aluminum-ion batteries is both very exciting and promising – in particular as it pertains to large-scale storage applications, such as grid-scale electric storage,” commented Mr. Baxter. “Our relationship with Stanford University and Dr. Dai demonstrates AGC’s commitment to technological advancement and diversification.”
On behalf of the Board of Directors of ALABAMA GRAPHITE CORP.
Donald K. D. Baxter, P.Eng., President, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director
Qualified Person
Donald K. D. Baxter, P.Eng., President, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Alabama Graphite Corp., is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 guidelines, and has reviewed and approved the content of this news release.
About Alabama Graphite Corp.
Alabama Graphite Corp. is a Canadian-based flake graphite exploration and development company as well as an aspiring battery materials production and technology company. The Company operates through its wholly owned subsidiary, Alabama Graphite Company Inc. (a company registered in the state of Alabama). With an advancing flake graphite project in the United States of America, Alabama Graphite Corp intends to become a reliable, long-term U.S. supplier of specialty high-purity graphite products. A highly experienced team leads the Company with more than 100 years of combined graphite mining, graphite processing, specialty graphite products and applications, and graphite sales experience. Alabama Graphite Corp. is focused on the exploration and development of its flagship Coosa Graphite Project in Coosa County, Alabama, and its Bama Mine Project in Chilton County, Alabama as well the research and development of its proprietary manufacturing and technological processing process of battery materials.
Alabama Graphite Corp. holds a 100% interest in the mineral rights for these two U.S.-based graphite projects, which are both located on private land. The two projects encompass more than 43,000 acres and are located in a geopolitically stable, mining-friendly jurisdiction with significant historical production of crystalline flake graphite in the flake graphite belt of central Alabama, also known as the Alabama Graphite Belt (source: U.S. Bureau of Mines). A significant portion of the Alabama deposits are characterized by graphite-bearing material that is oxidized and has been weathered into extremely soft rock. Both projects have infrastructure in place, are within close proximity to major highways, rail, power and water, and are approximately three hours (by truck or train) to the Port of Mobile, the Alabama Port Authority’s deep-seawater port and the ninth largest port by tonnage in the United States (source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers/USACE). The state of Alabama’s hospitable climate allows for year-round mining operations and the world’s largest marble quarry (which operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in Sylacauga, Alabama), is located within a 30-minute drive of the Coosa Graphite Project.
On November 30, 2015, Alabama Graphite Corp. announced the results of PEA for the Coosa Graphite Project, indicating a potentially low-cost project with potential positive economics. Please refer to the Company’s technical report titled “Alabama Graphite Corp. Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) on the Coosa graphite Project, Alabama, USA” dated November 27, 2015, prepared by independent engineering firms AGP Mining Consultants Inc. and Metal Mining Consultants Inc., and filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Note: a preliminary economic assessment is preliminary in nature, it includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves and there is no certainty that the preliminary economic assessment will be realized.
* Inferred Mineral Resources represent material that is considered too speculative to be included in economic evaluations. Additional trenching and/or drilling will be required to convert Inferred Mineral Resources to Measured or Indicated Mineral Resources. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no guarantee that all or any part of the Mineral Resource will be converted into a Mineral Reserve.
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Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking information under applicable Canadian securities laws (“forward-looking statements“), which may include, without limitation, statements with respect to any potential developments or advancements in respect of aluminum-ion batteries. The forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of management and reflect Alabama Graphite Corp.’s current expectations. When used in this press release, the words “estimate”, “project”, “belief”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “expect”, “plan”, “predict”, “may” or “should” and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current view of Alabama Graphite Corp. with respect to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements.
By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among other things, the interpretation and actual results of current exploration activities; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; future prices of graphite; possible variations in grade or recovery rates; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; the failure of contracted parties to perform; labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing or in the completion of exploration, as well as those factors disclosed in the Company’s publicly filed documents. Forward-looking statements are also based on a number of assumptions, including that contracted parties provide goods and/or services on the agreed timeframes, that equipment necessary for exploration is available as scheduled and does not incur unforeseen breakdowns, that no labor shortages or delays are incurred, that plant and equipment function as specified, that no unusual geological or technical problems occur, and that laboratory and other related services are available and perform as contracted. Forward-looking statements are made based on management’s beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made and Alabama Graphite Corp. undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements (unless required by law) if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. Alabama Graphite Corp. cautions that the foregoing list of material factors and assumptions are not exhaustive. When relying on Alabama Graphite Corp. forward-looking statements to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and assumptions and other uncertainties and potential events.
Alabama Graphite Corp. has also assumed that the material factors and assumptions will not cause any forward-looking statements to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors and assumptions is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors.
NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICE PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.
Ann-Marie M. Pamplin
Director of Investor Relations
+1 (416) 309-8641
[email protected]
www.alabamagraphite.com
Alabama Graphite Corp.
First Canadian Place
100 King Street West
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