International Graphite has signed a binding joint venture agreement with Alkeemia S.p.A, one of Europe’s largest chemical manufacturers, to build, own and operate a major new European graphite processing facility in Italy.
The advanced facility will produce processed graphite products for Europe’s growing industrial and advanced manufacturing sectors, significantly progressing the EU’s targets to secure domestic supply.
Co-location in Alkeemia’s world class chemical and industrial precinct, at Porto Marghera near Venice, provides outstanding benefits for the JV, including access to hydrofluoric acid (HF) supply, shared industrial infrastructure, a skilled workforce and on-site purification capability. Synergies from operating in an industrial chemical eco-system are expected to position the joint venture as a highly capital-efficient and low-opex operation.
View Managing Director Andrew Worland’s interview with Proactive Investors
Left: Alkeemia CEO Lorenzo Di Donato, left, and IG6 Managing Director Andrew Worland, in Venice. Right: Alkeemia’s Porto Marghera operations.
The Joint Venture and Shareholders’ Agreement (Alkeemia 51% / IG6 49% with 50 / 50 profit share) was signed at Alkeemia’s annual Battery Forum in Venice.
IG6 Managing Director & CEO Andrew Worland said: “This agreement marks a defining moment for IG6 achieved in less than six months – a pace that reflects the genuine strength of alignment between our two companies and the scale of the European critical minerals opportunity that is in front of us.”
The JV development targets an initial production capacity of ~10,000t/y, increasing to ~15,000t/y within three years. Construction start is planned for Q3 2026 with first production in H2 2027 (subject to Final Investment Decision).
IG6 plans to have two graphite processing facilities in production by 2027 with the Collie Micronising Facility, in Western Australia, also in construction.
