Syrah commences AAM production in Louisiana, USA

2024-02-09

Feb. 9, 2024 - Vidalia is the first vertically integrated natural graphite AAM (Active Anode Materials) supplier outside China, processing natural graphite from Syrah’s Balama Graphite Operation in Mozambique.

Syrah Managing Director and CEO Shaun Verner said, “Commencing production at Vidalia is a huge step forward in Syrah’s evolution, with the downstream integration being the culmination of almost seven years of technology development, feasibility, procurement, engineering, construction and commissioning work undertaken by the Syrah team and its service providers. I congratulate Anne Duncan, our VP US Processing Operations, and the Syrah team on the progress to achieve this important milestone with a strong focus on safety, capital cost controls and schedule, with Vidalia has becoming the first integrated AAM facility of its scale built outside China. Syrah expresses its gratitude to the City of Vidalia, the State of Louisiana, the US Department of Energy and the local, state and federal authorities which have supported Syrah in its development of Vidalia. Syrah looks forward to positively contributing to the communities around Vidalia and the Company’s stakeholders in the US for many years to come.

“Our 11.25ktpa AAM Vidalia operation is strategic for both Syrah and the North American battery supply chain and is the foundation of our downstream growth strategy. This strategy is supported by strong EV-driven demand globally, recognition of the importance of independent natural graphite AAM critical mineral supply, and differentiation in terms of emissions intensity of production and provenance of supply. The importance of Vidalia is reinforced by China’s recent introduction of export controls on natural and synthetic graphite and its products, and US guidance on the definition of foreign entity of concern governing qualification for the Section 30D tax credit for new electric vehicles".