Battery materials and technology company Talga Group announced that its recent exploration activities at its 100 per cent-owned Vittangi Graphite Project in northern Sweden have yielded promising results.
Graphite, primarily used as the anode in lithium-ion batteries, has been designated a critical and strategic material by the European Commission.
The ASX-listed company said the majority of graphite anode material used by electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers in Europe is currently imported from Asia due to a lack of local supply, and Talga aims to change this narrative with its extensive natural graphite resources in Sweden.
Talga’s latest achievement includes a successful deep geophysical survey at the Nunasvaara South deposit within the Vittangi Graphite Project.
Ground electromagnetic (EM) methods were employed to locate potential graphite resources up to 1,000 meters below the surface. The data collected is currently being processed, and results are expected to be announced soon.
The geophysical findings will guide strategic drilling efforts to expand the existing 11.1 million metric tons (Mt) Nunasvaara South resource.
This extension will be essential for accommodating the growing demand for graphite anode material, especially for local battery production.
Talga is also exploring the possibility of transitioning to underground extraction, which could lead to shorter timelines for increased production, reduced waste, and decreased environmental impact.
Moreover, Talga has uncovered a new source of graphite in a previously unexplored area approximately eight kilometres northeast of the Nunasvaara and Niska deposits. A six-kilometer-long zone with strong EM conductors, hidden beneath soil and till cover, piqued the company’s interest.
After conducting extensive surveys and scout drilling, Talga achieved impressive downhole intercepts, including 212 meters at 4.5 per cent graphite and 77 meters at 4.1 per cent graphite.
In collaboration with independent mining consultant SLR Consulting Limited, Talga has updated the Mineral Resource estimate for the Vittangi Graphite Project.
The increased cut-off grade now stands at 12.5 per cent graphite, resulting in a revised estimate of 35.0 million metric tons of graphite, with an average grade of 23.8 per cent.
Talga said this updated estimate solidifies its position as the largest holder of natural graphite resources in Europe, with an estimated total of 70.8 million metric tons, containing 13.3 million metric tons of graphite.
