Construction Financing Update
On September 4, 2024, the Company announced that it had executed a term sheet and agreed to exclusivity with a global financial institution for a $150.0 million secured debt facility, which would be used to complete the construction of Phase I of the Kellyton Graphite Plant. The progression from signing the term sheet to loan closing is subject to customary agreement on final terms, due diligence, and loan conditions, and no assurance can be given that the Company will ultimately enter into the secured debt facility, or that financing will be available in amounts sufficient to meet its needs, or on terms acceptable to the Company.
Coosa Graphite Deposit
Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Alabama Graphite, Westwater holds mineral rights across 41,965 acres of the Alabama graphite belt in Coosa County, Alabama. During the fourth quarter of 2023, Westwater completed an IA, with an economic analysis for the Coosa Graphite Deposit. The IA was completed as a Technical Report Summary (“TRS”) disclosing Mineral Resources, including an economic analysis, for the Coosa Graphite Deposit, in accordance with S-K 1300. The TRS was completed on behalf of Westwater by SLR International Corporation (“SLR”) with an effective date of December 11, 2023, and filed with the SEC on Form 8-K/A on October 9, 2024. For further information regarding the IA and the Coosa Graphite Deposit, refer to Item 2, Properties, in the Annual Report and the aforementioned Form 8-K/A.
Westwater commenced a strategic financing review process for the Coosa Graphite Deposit in the first quarter of 2024. This strategic financing review process seeks to identify investment sources and partners for the Coosa Graphite Deposit, and may include review of strategic investment partners or other strategic transactions.
Graphite and Vanadium as Critical Materials
Presently, the United States is almost 100% dependent on imports for battery-grade graphite, which is currently the primary anode material in the lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles, smartphones, and laptops, and store power generated from intermittent renewable energy sources. Westwater intends to process natural flake graphite into battery-grade graphite, primarily for lithium-ion batteries.
Approximately 78% of natural graphite anode global supply comes from China (Benchmark, 2023). In addition, China is one of the largest global importers of natural graphite flake, relying on less expensive African sources. Both of these factors cause China to pose a geopolitical risk, particularly to the U.S. and EU. China and the U.S. have imposed tariffs and export controls on critical minerals, including graphite, indicating the potential for further trade barriers between China and the United States. Effective December 1, 2023, China began requiring government approval for exports of two types of graphite products, including high-purity, high-hardness and high-intensity synthetic graphite material and natural flake graphite and its products. Westwater believes these export restrictions continue to highlight the supply-chain risk for the U.S. and other countries related to natural graphite products and could provide an opportunity for Westwater.
On March 31, 2022, President Biden invoked the Defense Production Act to encourage the domestic production of critical materials, including graphite, for advanced batteries for electric vehicles and clean energy storage. On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act (“IRA”). The IRA provides a 10% tax credit for the costs of producing certain critical minerals, including graphite and vanadium. This credit is eligible for direct pay and is also transferable to unrelated taxpayers. In addition, a key provision of the IRA that could indirectly benefit the Company is the Clean Vehicle credit. The IRA eliminates the previous limitation on the number of electric vehicles a manufacturer can sell before the Clean Vehicle credit is phased out or eliminated. Further, the IRA sets a minimum domestic content threshold for the percentage of the value of applicable critical minerals contained in the battery of the electric vehicles. Because Westwater intends to produce battery grade graphite for lithium-ion batteries to be used in electric vehicles in the United States, management believes the domestic content requirement could provide indirect future benefit to the Company.
On May 3, 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury Department”) adopted final regulations related to the Clean Vehicle Tax credit of $7,500 under section 30D of the Internal Revenue Code (the “federal electric vehicle tax credit”). The final rules effectuate the guidance previously provided in December 2023 by the Treasury Department related to the key requirements for the federal electric vehicle tax credit. The final rules include a process –