Alabama Graphite Products, LLC company leadership gathered with state and local elected officials in Coosa County on Tuesday to celebrate the groundbreaking of its $202 million graphite processing plant.
The plant, which is being built in the Lake Martin Regional Industrial Park in Kellyton, will process raw graphite into battery-grade graphite for use in batteries that power electric vehicles and other products.
According to the company, which is a subsidiary of Westwater Resources, phase one of the Kellyton plant is expected to employ at least 100 people at around $21 per hour. When fully operational, it is anticipated that the plant will produce 7,500 metric tons of refined graphite annually.
Chad Potter, president and CEO of Westwater Resources and Alabama Graphite Products, offered appreciation to the company’s workforce for enabling the groundbreaking to come to fruition.
“The construction of this plant is the result of a lot of work, cooperation, planning and vision by numerous people over a number of years,” said Potter. “I want to thank our incredible team, which envisioned and laid the foundation for what is the first graphite plant of its kind anywhere, as well as our state and local partners who made this day possible.”
Refined graphite is used as the anode in lithium-ion batteries that are found in electric vehicles and other products. Presently, there are no producers of natural-grade graphite in the United States for these types of products.
The mineral, which is primarily imported from China, has been declared by the U.S. government to be a strategic mineral.
Potter continued, “Since our announcement in June of last year that we will build our state-of-the-art processing plant in Alabama, we have made significant investments in preparation for the operation of our plant. We have purchased and renovated two large existing buildings adjacent to the plant site – one for warehousing and logistical uses, the other for our laboratory and administrative offices. As our investment of millions of dollars and our commitment to invest even more indicate, we are firmly committed to Alabama and this community, and we look forward to being here for many years to come.”
According to Gov. Kay Ivey, the plant will serve to bolster Alabama’s robust automotive industry.
“Alabama, which is home to Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Hyundai, Toyota and Mazda, is among the top four states in the nation in automobile production,” advised Ivey. “This plant will make Alabama an even bigger player in the fast-growing electric vehicle sector. It also creates jobs and will serve as a catalyst for economic development in the region, which my administration has worked tirelessly over the years to bring to the state. As this new manufacturing facility demonstrates, the fruits of that labor are paying dividends for the people of Alabama.”
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks) spoke to the economic activity that will take place as a result of the plant.
“Having the first graphite processing of its kind in Coosa County is a real honor and I believe an indication of what’s to come,” stated Rogers. “This project will spur more economic development in the region and more jobs for the people here.”
Westwater also plans to continue advanced exploration activities of a graphite deposit in western Coosa County in the Alabama Graphite Belt. The energy company acquired mineral rights to nearly 41,000 acres in 2018, where it plans to begin mining operations by the end of 2028.
The company’s plans are significant for the Yellowhammer State as there is currently no commercial-level graphite mining in the United States.
Potter concluded by expressing gratitude to Westwater’s government and community partners for the support that was provided to the company.
“The cooperation and assistance we have received – from tax incentives to utilities to workforce development – has been incredible. We would not be here today without their support,” said the company president.
Operations are expected to begin at the Kellyton processing plant at the end of the second quarter of 2023.
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
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