Falcon Energy Materials plc (TSX-V: FLCN) (OTCQB: FLCNF) announced the official opening of its pilot plant near Casablanca, Morocco, a milestone in the company's development of large-scale production of high-purity coated spheronized purified graphite (CSPG) for the global battery industry. The pilot plant, which was fully assembled and pre-commissioned before relocation, will produce qualification-scale CSPG samples for potential customers and generate operating data, workforce training, and process design criteria needed to advance Falcon's proposed 25,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) commercial-scale anode facility.
According to the company, the pilot plant is the first natural graphite CSPG pilot facility in Morocco. Commissioning of the process line is underway following successful relocation and installation of the full process line. Qualification-scale CSPG samples are expected to be produced on site in the summer of 2026 for potential customers, supporting sample qualification programs previously announced.
“The opening of our Pilot Plant in Morocco is a defining milestone for Falcon. It marks our transition from planning and procurement to operational execution and advances our goal of building a competitive battery anode supply chain outside of China,” stated Matthieu Bos, President and CEO of Falcon. “This facility allows us to produce qualification-scale CSPG samples for potential customers while generating the operating knowledge, workforce experience and process data that will de-risk and accelerate the development of our commercial Anode Plant.”
The pilot plant represents a critical scale-up from laboratory and bench-scale testing. Operating the facility provides Falcon with the opportunity to optimize key aspects of the CSPG production process and establish detailed process design criteria that are expected to support the engineering of the anode plant and future commercial discussions with prospective customers. Beyond producing qualification material, the pilot plant serves as an important training platform for plant operators in preparation for commercial production. The training programs and operating procedures being implemented are expected to be transferable to the anode plant and may support a more efficient ramp-up of future operations.
With the pilot plant operational, Falcon is preparing qualification-scale CSPG samples from premium natural graphite feedstock sourced from Africa for evaluation by potential customers, including original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and battery producers. The facility enables the company to produce material tailored to customer specifications and support the large-scale qualification programs already initiated by prospective customers. Falcon remains confident in the global availability of premium graphite feedstock and continues to test several alternative high-quality sources to ensure a scalable, reliable supply for its growing operations.
The development of a CSPG supply chain outside China is significant for the battery industry, which has relied heavily on Chinese processing. Falcon's strategic partnerships with leading technology firms and Tier One Moroccan partners, along with its geographical location, are expected to enable consistent, high-quality supply to global markets. The company aims to become the premier provider of natural CSPG, supporting widespread adoption in energy storage and other emerging industries.
For additional information, visit Falcon's website at www.falconem.net. Forward-looking statements in this release are based on assumptions that the pilot plant will be commissioned and operated as planned, that it will successfully produce qualification-scale samples, and that the company will secure necessary financing and permits. Risks include volatility in market prices, ability to obtain financing, supply chain disruptions, and changes in demand for lithium-ion batteries. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
