ALKEEMIA and International Graphite plan Porto Marghera hub to scale Europe’s processed graphite supply

Europe’s push to secure processed graphite—not just raw material—has gained momentum as ALKEEMIA moves to expand capacity through a new partnership aimed at scaling the mid-stream portion of the value chain.

The company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with International Graphite (ASX: IG6) to establish a joint venture developing a graphite processing hub in Porto Marghera, Italy. The project is positioned as a meaningful step within Europe’s broader strategy for critical minerals processing.

A joint venture built around shared economics

The proposed structure assigns a 51% stake to ALKEEMIA and 49% to International Graphite, with profits shared equally between the two parties. The arrangement is designed as an industrial collaboration rather than a financing-only relationship.

From purification to higher-value graphite products

The Porto Marghera facility will target production of micronized graphite and expandable graphite. These are downstream-oriented materials that require high-purity feedstock and advanced chemical processing, shifting the emphasis toward capabilities that support higher-value applications.

The plan also calls for integration of know-how across the supply chain: ALKEEMIA’s fluorine chemistry expertise is expected to pair with International Graphite’s processing and product development capabilities, creating what the companies describe as an integrated mid-stream platform.

An expansion roadmap already underway in Porto Marghera

This initiative builds on earlier work at Porto Marghera by ALKEEMIA, where a ~200 tonnes per year graphite purification plant is scheduled for commissioning in 2026. The longer-term roadmap targets scaling production toward ~20,000 tonnes per year by 2030, supported by a phased expansion approach intended to reduce capital intensity while preserving operational flexibility as European demand for processed graphite rises.

Why the partnership matters for risk and speed-to-market

The commercial logic extends beyond capacity growth. For International Graphite, access to an established purification platform is described as lowering CAPEX requirements and reducing operational risk—allowing faster entry into downstream markets without relying solely on standalone infrastructure.

For ALKEEMIA, the joint venture broadens its traditional fluorochemicals footprint into battery materials and advanced carbon processing. The company is described as one of Europe’s leading producers of hydrofluoric acid and fluoroderivatives—inputs considered essential for graphite purification.

The underlying value proposition is straightforward: purified graphite serves as the foundation for micronized graphite, expandable graphite, and battery anode materials. In that framing, mid-stream processing becomes central to value creation rather than focusing only on upstream mining.

A strategic bet on Europe-based processing capability

Yoshi Uenishi, Chief Strategy Officer of ALKEEMIA, said integrating purification with downstream processing in one hub can accelerate industrial scale-up, improve capital efficiency, and generate operational synergies across the graphite value chain.

The effort also aligns with Europe’s growing focus on reducing dependence on imported processed graphite—particularly from China. With existing chemical infrastructure, skilled workforce resources, and logistics capabilities already in place, Porto Marghera is being positioned as an emerging mid-stream node supporting more localized supply chains for batteries and advanced materials industries.

Toward definitive deals and final investment decisions

The joint venture is now moving toward definitive agreements, including progress toward a Final Investment Decision (FID). Both companies have indicated an accelerated timeline.

Meanwhile, ALKEEMIA plans to continue scaling its graphite purification capacity to reinforce its role as a key mid-stream enabler within Europe’s expanding battery materials ecosystem.

Beyond Porto Marghera, the partnership reflects what it describes as a wider European direction: combining chemical processing expertise with raw material supply chains to create hybrid industrial platforms that connect upstream inputs with downstream manufacturing needs.