Blencowe Expands Uganda Graphite into US Defence and Battery Markets

Blencowe Resources Plc has reported further positive test results for graphite from its Orom-Cross project in Uganda, highlighting its potential across advanced battery technologies and defence applications. The latest findings follow successful testing of Orom-Cross graphite in anti-radar coatings and other defence-related platforms, strengthening the company’s strategy to develop higher-value markets beyond conventional graphite applications.

Blencowe is working with US graphite specialists Apollo Energy Systems Inc. and American Energy Technologies Corporation (AETC) on a laboratory demonstration prototype designed to meet the 4HN high-performance military battery specifications required by the US Defence Logistics Agency (DLA). If the prototype programme is successfully completed, the companies intend to establish a pilot production line in the United States with a targeted capacity of 100 lead-acid battery cells per month.

The programme also demonstrates the potential to commercialize material that would otherwise be treated as waste during Blencowe’s planned uncoated spheronised purified graphite (USPG) beneficiation process in Uganda. Spheroidisation rejects from the process are being converted by AETC into high-surface-area expanded delaminated (HSAED) graphite and tested as a performance-enhancing additive for advanced valve-regulated lead-acid batteries.

Testing showed that the Orom-Cross graphite additive can improve high-rate partial state-of-charge performance, charge acceptance and discharge characteristics. The material delivered lower voltage drops under demanding operating conditions and demonstrated performance comparable with or better than control samples. These characteristics could support applications such as grid-scale energy storage, start-stop vehicles, data centres, telecommunications, military systems and off-grid power.

The development could also create a substantially higher-value sales route for the approximately 30% of material expected to emerge as waste from the planned beneficiation facility. Rather than being discarded or sold into lower-value applications, this material could serve specialized battery markets, helping Blencowe maximize the value of its graphite concentrate.

AETC’s research has further indicated that graphite can improve lead-acid battery performance by creating conductive networks, supporting more efficient charge acceptance, reducing polarization and limiting lead sulphate crystal growth. These properties can contribute to improved cycling performance and longer battery life.

Blencowe said the latest results reinforce Orom-Cross’s combination of high purity, strong conductivity and adaptability across multiple markets. Previous work under the SAFELOOP programme reportedly achieved 99.99 wt% carbon purity and delivered AETC’s highest performance score for a natural graphite project.

The company believes these developments could strengthen its position in Western markets and reduce reliance on traditional graphite supply chains, particularly China. As Orom-Cross moves toward first production, Blencowe plans to continue developing specialized offtake opportunities across defence, energy storage and other advanced technology sectors.

Product Impact and Chemical Commodity Price Impact

The news is strongly positive for Orom-Cross graphite, as successful battery testing expands its addressable market into military batteries, grid storage, data centres and start-stop applications. Using spheroidisation rejects also improves resource utilization and could raise the project’s overall realized value. For chemical commodities tracked by ChemAnalyst, the immediate price impact should remain limited because the project is still progressing toward production and the announced pilot scale is small. However, successful commercialization could gradually increase non-Chinese graphite supply and intensify competition in specialty graphite markets, potentially moderating graphite prices over the longer term. Demand for battery-grade graphite and related carbon materials could simultaneously receive support.