Titan Mining Corp. has officially commenced construction on a fully permitted commercial demonstration facility for natural flake graphite at its Empire State Mine in St. Lawrence County, New York. This project marks the first time in nearly 70 years that natural flake graphite will be both mined and processed in the United States, advancing the nation's energy independence and critical mineral supply chain resilience.

The facility leverages the site’s existing zinc mill and infrastructure to streamline development and reduce costs. With engineering completed and procurement underway, commissioning is scheduled for the second half of 2025. The facility will initially process 60,000 tonnes of feed annually from the Kilbourne Project, yielding 1,000 to 1,200 tonnes of graphite concentrate. Qualification sales to U.S. defense and industrial customers are anticipated in early 2026.

Titan aims to eventually scale production to 40,000 tonnes of graphite annually, potentially meeting the majority of domestic demand for this key material. The project is being developed through a public-private partnership with the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency (SLCIDA) and the Development Authority of the North Country (DANC), both of which have provided equipment financing and workforce support.

“This launch underscores the scalability and optionality of our district,” said Titan CEO Don Taylor. “Producing both zinc and graphite at one site uniquely positions us to deliver critical materials from a single, fully permitted platform with existing infrastructure.”

Titan President Rita Adiani emphasized the national importance of the project, calling it “a critical first step toward restoring domestic production of a mineral essential to our national security and energy independence.”

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, chair of the House Republican Conference, expressed strong support for the initiative. “This is a major step for national security, supply chain resilience and job creation in New York’s North Country,” she said.

Local leaders also voiced enthusiasm for the project. Patrick J. Kelly, CEO of SLCIDA, praised the collaboration and potential for regional economic growth. Carl E. Farone Jr., executive director of DANC, highlighted the project's significance as one of the first U.S. efforts to mine and process natural flake graphite.

Titan is preparing a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the Kilbourne Project, with results expected in late 2025. The company plans to continue operations at the facility to support product qualification while pursuing future expansion aligned with customer demand and secured offtake agreements. Titan has committed to retaining at least 135 full-time jobs and adding five new positions as part of the facility’s development.