Highlights

  • Orom-Cross graphite delivers ~12% improved performance in lead-acid battery testing.
  • Purified graphite reaches 99.98 wt%C, suitable for electric vehicle anode applications.
  • EV anodes containing over 68% natural Orom-Cross graphite deliver high electrochemical performance.

Blencowe Resources Plc (LSE:BRES) has announced new international test results for graphite sourced from its Orom-Cross project in Uganda, confirming its superior performance across multiple battery technologies. Recent evaluations conducted by Apollo Energy Systems Inc. revealed that incorporating 2 wt.% Orom-Cross graphite into the negative electrode of lead-acid batteries improves discharge capacity by about 12% compared to similar materials.

The testing demonstrated enhancements in energy capacity, charge acceptance, resistance to sulfation, and overall battery cycle life. Notably, the materials tested were by-products from the Spheronised Purified Graphite (SPG) process, highlighting that secondary streams can still deliver commercial-grade performance suitable for various applications, including vehicles, grid storage, and backup systems worldwide.

Complementary Earlier Research

Previous studies carried out by American Energy Technologies (AETC), as part of the EU-funded SAFELOOP programme, confirmed that Orom-Cross graphite can be purified to 99.98 wt%C, making it suitable for electric vehicle anode use. Anode products containing over 68% natural Orom-Cross graphite, mostly replacing synthetic graphite inputs, consistently achieved high performance, underscoring the material’s advantageous electrochemical characteristics.

Executive Chairman’s Statement

Executive Chairman Cameron Pearce noted that the latest Apollo Energy testing underscores Orom-Cross graphite’s capacity to improve lead-acid battery discharge by approximately 12%, with even secondary SPG by-products boosting energy capacity, charge acceptance, and cycle life. Combined with earlier SAFELOOP findings where purified graphite approached 99.98 wt%C purity and EV anodes contained over 68% natural graphite, these outcomes confirm Orom-Cross’s strong performance across varied battery technologies.

Summary of Test Results

Apollo’s recent tests showed Orom-Cross graphite achieved an average 12.6% increase in discharge capacity over nine cycles compared to control samples. The initial cycle recorded 85.50 mAh/g NAM against 79.62 mAh/g NAM for the control, and cycles 10 to 17 consistently ranged from 83.59 to 86.66 mAh/g NAM. This indicates improved energy retention and reduced performance degradation over repeated cycles.