Urbix to Receive $125M from US Government for Graphite Processing Facility Funding

Urbix, Inc., a leading U.S.-based graphite processing technology developer, has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) to enter final negotiations for up to $125 million in funding. This support, part of the U.S. government’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, aims to bolster domestic lithium-ion battery production for electric vehicles and other uses.

The funding will aid Urbix in building a commercial-scale graphite processing facility that employs its proprietary, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly methods. The facility will manufacture high-quality Coated Spherical Purified Graphite (CSPG), which serves as the main anode material for lithium-ion batteries. The plant's first commercial module is expected to produce around 10,000 tonnes of CSPG annually, with future expansion plans for additional modules. Urbix’s long-term strategy is to construct more such facilities across the U.S. to fortify the domestic battery manufacturing supply chain, reduce reliance on foreign sources of critical minerals, and support the clean energy transition.

The project is anticipated to generate significant job opportunities, including 200 high-paying full-time positions and 300 construction jobs. A key focus of the initiative is its community benefits plan, which includes workforce development, employee benefits, and career advancement in STEM disciplines, particularly in the clean energy sector.

Currently, China dominates the CSPG market, supplying nearly all the material used in lithium-ion battery anodes and producing over 90% of the world’s anodes. Urbix's project aligns with MESC’s Battery Materials Processing and Manufacturing grant program, which seeks to build a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable domestic battery supply chain.

In October 2023, Urbix signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with Appian Capital Advisory, a leading private capital investor in metals and mining. This partnership will support Urbix’s commercial-scale facility by providing a steady supply of high-quality natural graphite concentrate from Graphcoa, a Brazilian graphite producer owned by Appian. This collaboration will establish a fully integrated and secure graphite anode supply chain within the Americas to support the growing number of gigafactories.

Nico Cuevas, Founder and CEO of Urbix, emphasized that the project is a significant milestone for the company and the U.S. battery manufacturing industry. "This grant will accelerate the development of our facility, providing a robust and secure end-to-end supply chain of premium graphite anode material that is essential to the industry's ambitions," he stated.

Urbix, a U.S.-based innovator in graphite processing technology, employs a sustainable and eco-friendly method to produce high-quality Coated Spherical Purified Graphite (CSPG), a critical anode material for lithium-ion batteries. Their proprietary, cost-efficient process eliminates the need for hydrofluoric acid and delivers yields that exceed industry benchmarks.