Blencowe Joins Elite European Consortium to Supply Graphite for EV Buses

Blencowe Resources has announced its acceptance into the prestigious SAFELOOP consortium, a key initiative under the European Commission’s €100 billion Horizon Europe Programme, aimed at advancing Europe’s renewable energy transition. This development marks a significant milestone for Blencowe and its Orom-Cross Graphite Project in Uganda, positioning the project as a crucial supplier within the European electric vehicle (EV) supply chain. The partnership provides Blencowe with exclusive access to premium pricing contracts, large-scale offtake agreements up to 100,000 tonnes annually, and collaborations with tier-one European gigafactories and EV manufacturers. These strategic advantages solidify Orom-Cross’s global importance and enable Blencowe to play a pivotal role in meeting the growing demand for critical EV materials.

Key Highlights of the partnership include:

• Exclusive Supplier Role: Orom-Cross will be the sole supplier of natural flake graphite concentrate for the anodes of SAFELOOP’s Gen3 Li-Ion batteries, ensuring a high-quality source for this essential component.

• Premium Pricing: The graphite supplied through SAFELOOP is expected to fetch significantly higher prices than similar concentrates sold in Asian markets, enhancing the financial prospects for Blencowe.

• Large-Scale Offtake: The program is set to require up to 100,000 tonnes of small flake graphite annually at full ramp-up, creating a valuable, long-term revenue stream for Blencowe.

• Strategic Partnerships: Blencowe will work closely with a European gigafactory, an EV bus original equipment manufacturer (OEM), and other key partners, opening further opportunities for Orom-Cross.

• Green Credentials: Orom-Cross graphite will undergo EU Green Passport evaluation, enhancing its appeal in future European and North American markets.

Blencowe’s U.S. technical partner, American Energy Technologies Co. (AETC), will play a central role in processing the Orom-Cross graphite into battery-ready anode active materials. This collaboration ensures high-quality, fully integrated production within SAFELOOP, aligning with the program’s objective to advance European Gigafactory-scale battery solutions. AETC has conducted over 24 months of rigorous testing on Orom-Cross graphite, confirming its exceptional quality for use in advanced lithium-ion batteries.

The processed anode materials will be delivered to the SAFELOOP-designated Gigafactory, ASPILSAN in Turkey, which will produce Gen3 Li-Ion batteries for BOZANKAYA, a specialist in EV buses. The exceptional quality of Orom-Cross graphite was a key factor in Blencowe being selected as the exclusive supplier for SAFELOOP, highlighting its critical role in high-performance battery anodes.

Executive Chairman Cameron Pearce expressed his excitement about the partnership, emphasizing that being chosen as SAFELOOP’s exclusive graphite supplier provides Blencowe with a substantial offtake opportunity and long-term value for shareholders. He also noted that this collaboration further strengthens the company's position as a leader in the global graphite market.

AETC’s Manager of Government Relationships, Anna Doninger, also praised the partnership, highlighting the high quality of Orom-Cross graphite and its alignment with the demands of European Gigafactories. Both Blencowe and AETC are optimistic about the success of this collaboration within the SAFELOOP program.