Northern Graphite Corporation says its fully permitted Okanjande graphite mine in Namibia will form a key pillar of its global mine-to-battery strategy, with plans to supply natural graphite anode material to Europe and diversify supply chains away from China.
Chief Executive Hugues Jacquemin said the Namibian operation will support rising demand from the electric vehicle and energy storage sectors.
“Since acquiring LDI and the Okanjande Project in 2022, we have been laying the groundwork for a resilient, integrated and globally relevant graphite business and that work is starting to bear fruit. Geopolitical realities have made the criticality of what we do unmistakable, and governments and customers alike are now stepping forward to support the development of secure, transparent supply chains in the west. Northern is well positioned to meet this challenge,” he said.
The company said Okanjande, currently on care and maintenance, offers a short lead time to increased production at lower cost than many competing projects. Northern plans to integrate Namibian concentrate into its planned European Battery Anode Material (BAM) facility, positioning Okanjande as a key source of anode-grade graphite for Europe.
“Northern’s planned facilities are designed to fill this strategic gap in supply chains outside of China, offering a secure, transparent and ESG-aligned source of natural graphite anode material. Okanjande will play a central role in this strategy,” Jacquemin said.
Northern’s “mine-to-battery” model is intended to link Namibian graphite directly to high-value products for the EV and energy storage markets. The company has already secured EU strategic project status for its planned BAM facility, allowing for accelerated permitting and funding.
Jacquemin said Namibia’s infrastructure and political stability strengthen the project’s investment case. “Okanjande represents an opportunity to substantially increase graphite production at a lower cost and with a shorter time to market than most competing projects. Its location close to infrastructure in a politically stable jurisdiction is a significant advantage for our integrated strategy,” he said.
Northern continues to advance the project and position itself as a global supplier of battery-grade graphite. The mine is expected to support the company’s goal of providing secure, sustainable material for the rapidly expanding EV and storage sectors.
The company has announced plans to restart production at Okanjande in the first half of 2027.
“With the resumption of production at the Okanjande Project, Northern would become one of the world’s largest non-Chinese natural graphite producers,” it said in its second-quarter 2025 results.
