Graphite flake producer Northern Graphite has brought forward mill maintenance and repairs at its Lac des Iles (LDI) operation, in Quebec, to accelerate throughput expansions in the face of rising demand for natural graphite outside of China.

The shutdown is scheduled from November 2 until January 6, the TSX-V-listed company reported on Monday.

“Lac des Iles has the potential to produce more and for longer than anticipated when we acquired the mine in 2022, and we need to prepare as we look to open a new pit and increase throughput at the mill,” said CEO Hugues Jacquemin.

Increasing output from the cornerstone LDI mine is vital to Northern’s strategy as it aims to become a vertically integrated supplier, serving both traditional downstream customers and the emerging market for battery anode material (BAM), as well as next-generation all-solid-state battery chemistries.

In April, the company shifted the LDI plant to a 24/7 operating schedule, which boosted output by 59% over the following months. Northern plans to further increase production after the plant reopens in January.

Northern’s mining division is currently running operational scenarios to open a new pit after a successful 2023 drilling campaign and a new resource estimate showed potential to significantly extend the mine life of LDI.

The company is also planning a second drilling programme with the goal of further expanding resources to increase production.

As Northern prepares to meet the rising demand from North American battery markets, it continues to develop its battery materials portfolio and engage in discussions with original equipment manufacturers and battery producers.

Northern’s carbon and battery laboratory in Frankfurt, Germany, enables the company’s battery division to produce BAM from LDI graphite and develop lithium-ion batteries that meet critical performance specifications, such as cycle life, driving range, and charging speed.

Earlier this month, the company announced a joint development agreement with Rain Carbon to create advanced natural graphite anode material that enhances performance while reducing the costs and carbon footprint of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles.

Furthermore, Northern’s patented Porocarb product is currently being evaluated by leading global battery manufacturers, yielding positive results. Porocarb is a carbon-based material that improves the performance of both solid-state and lithium-ion batteries.

“We are putting the pieces in place to be ready when markets improve, supplying North American battery makers with BAM processed from our graphite, tailored to their needs and close to their end markets,” Jacquemin noted.

Global graphite markets face rising supply pressures amid geopolitical tensions with China, driving consumers to seek secure supply chains in the West, and rely less on the world’s largest producer and processor of the leading component in lithium-ion batteries.

Northern has seen sustained demand growth and near-record sales since the second half of last year, and those trends are seen continuing into 2025.