Name of the Project
Graphite Creek mine.

Location
Seward peninsula, in Alaska about 60 km north of Nome, in the US.

Project Owner/s
US-based mineral exploration company Graphite One.

Project Description
The Graphite Creek project is the first in Alaska to be accepted as a ‘covered project’ onto the federal government’s FAST-41 permitting dashboard. FAST-41, established by the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act of 2015, is designed to streamline permitting by increasing transparency, accountability and timelines for major infrastructure projects.

Projects accepted onto the federal dashboard benefit from enhanced coordination between permitting agencies and the public tracking of progress.

The project is expected to produce an average of 175 000 t/y of graphite concentrate for the projected 20-year mine life. 

The April 2025 bankable feasibility study (BFS) proposes that the deposit be mined using conventional openpit mining methods, including drilling, blasting, loading and hauling.

The pit will be mined in five phases, with one year of prestripping occurring before the startup of the process facility, proposed to be built in the state of Ohio. The process facility is expected to be completed in seven 25 000 t/y modules while the mine completes permitting and construction. Average yearly production from the process facility is estimated at 256 251 t/y. The phased development strategy reduces upfront capital and aligns spending with project milestones.

Potential Job Creation
Job creation figures have not been disclosed.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The project has an estimated pretax internal rate of return of 30%, with a pretax net present value of $6.4-billion using an 8% discount rate, and a payback period of 7.3 years.

Capital Expenditure
Total capital costs are estimated at $5.05-billion.

Planned Start/End Date
The BFS envisions the first 48 000 t/y of commercial anode active material (AAM) production by 2028, startup of the Graphite Creek mine in 2030 and 169 000 t/y of AAM production by 2031.

Latest Developments
None stated.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Barr Engineering Co (feasibility study).

Contact Details for Project Information
Graphite One investor relations contact, tel +1 604 684 6730 or email GPH@kincommunications.com.