Graphene Manufacturing Group Limited (TSXV: GMG) (GMG or the Company) is pleased to provide a business update on the battery development partnership with Rio Tinto (Rio Tinto). The launch of this promotional video will celebrate the partnership between GMG and Rio Tinto to develop graphene aluminium ion batteries.
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The launch YouTube video can be seen at https://youtu.be/_ZD-uHcGxtQ?si=S3X2lknqpXcHan6O
On the 18th May 2023, GMG announced that GMG and Rio Tinto had signed a binding Joint Development Agreement (“JDA”) with the goal of accelerating the development and application of GMG’s Graphene Aluminium-Ion batteries in the mining and minerals industry. Rio Tinto will contribute technical and operational performance criteria and A$6 million, in exchange for preferential access rights.
Rio Tinto has put the net zero transition at the heart of its business strategy: combining investments in commodities that enable the energy transition with actions to decarbonise their operations and value chains. The JDA seeks to support the accelerated development of GMG’s Graphene Aluminium-Ion Batteries for use in heavy mobile equipment and grid energy storage applications in the mining and mineral industry.
The JDA builds on the existing collaboration for Rio Tinto to explore the use of GMG’s Energy Saving and Energy Storage solutions (see Company announcement on 18th May 2022). The JDA aims to co-develop GMG’s Graphene Aluminium-Ion battery pouch cell into an initial battery pack/module proof of concept. Rio Tinto will seek to involve Original Equipment Manufacturers (“OEMs”), including Heavy Mobile Equipment OEMs, to work with GMG and Rio Tinto to align the battery pack development with end-use requirements.
Success could see performance enhancements for Rio Tinto, including faster charging and longer-life batteries for heavy mobile equipment and grid energy storage, as well as supporting Rio Tinto’s decarbonisation ambitions.
GMG will retain ownership of the intellectual property of the GMG Graphene Aluminium Ion Battery Pouch Cell and Battery Pack. Upon successfully completing the joint project, Rio Tinto will have the right to procure and use the batteries in their operations.
Rio Tinto Chief Scientist, Nigel Steward, said, “We are excited with the progress made with our partnership with GMG to date. We both share a vision of a low-carbon future and for Rio Tinto, it’s a crucial time to partner with companies like GMG to accelerate battery technology and innovation. We are looking forward to continuing our collaboration and leveraging our combined expertise and resources to develop a truly green battery that has the potential to improve the way we supply and store energy.”
GMG’s Managing Director and CEO, Craig Nicol, commented: “GMG is genuinely excited about our ongoing collaboration with Rio Tinto, one of the world’s largest mining companies who are committed to leveraging leading technologies for efficient and low carbon operations. We are happy with the progress to date with our joint development with Rio Tinto on the Graphene Aluminium-Ion battery and their applications.”
Jack Perkowski, GMG’s Chairman, commented: “I am very pleased with the progress made between GMG and Rio Tinto on battery development and look forward to seeing the next stages of the development program rollout. We are proud to be chosen as Rio Tinto’s partner.”
About GMG www.graphenemg.com
GMG is a clean-technology company which seeks to offer energy saving and energy storage solutions, enabled by graphene, including that manufactured in-house via a proprietary production process.
GMG has developed a proprietary production process to decompose natural gas (i.e. methane) into its elements, carbon (as graphene), hydrogen and some residual hydrocarbon gases. This process produces high quality, low cost, scalable, ‘tuneable’ and low/no contaminant graphene suitable for use in clean-technology and other applications. The Company’s present focus is to de-risk and develop commercial scale-up capabilities, and secure market applications.
In the energy savings segment, GMG has focused on graphene enhanced heating, ventilation and air conditioning (“HVAC-R”) coating (or energy-saving paint), lubricants and fluids. In the energy storage segment, GMG and the University of Queensland are working collaboratively with financial support from the Australian Government to progress R&D and commercialization of graphene aluminium-ion batteries (“G+AI Batteries”).
GMG’s 4 critical business objectives remain to:
- Produce Graphene and improve/scale the production process
- Build Revenue from Energy Savings Products
- Develop Next-Generation Battery
- Develop Supply Chain, Partners & Project Execution Capability
About THERMAL-XR® powered by GMG Graphene:
THERMAL-XR® COATING SYSTEM is a unique method of improving the conductivity of corroded heat exchange surfaces and improving and maintaining the performance of new units at peak levels. The process coats and protects heat exchange surfaces while improving and rebuilding the lost corroded thermal conductivity and increasing the heat transfer rate by leveraging the physics of GMG Graphene, resulting in an efficiency improvement and a potential power reduction.
THERMAL-XR RESTORE® is powered by GMG Graphene. PATENT PENDING
For further information please contact:
- Craig Nicol, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of the Company at craig.nicol@graphenemg.com, +61 415 445 223
- Leo Karabelas at Focus Communications Investor Relations, leo@fcir.ca, +1 647 689 6041
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “intends”, “expects” or “anticipates”, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “should”, “would” or will “potentially” or “likely” occur. This information and these statements, referred to herein as “forward‐looking statements”, are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding the launch of the promotional video, Rio Tinto’s contributions under the JDA, the goals of the JDA, the involvement of OEMs in the development of the Company’s graphene aluminium ion batteries, the potential benefits and applications of a graphene aluminium ion battery pack, the continued partnership between Rio Tinto and GMG, and the benefits therefrom, and the next stages of the development program rollout.
Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions of management, including, without limitation, assumptions relating to the launch of the promotional video, that the JDA and partnership with Rio Tinto will proceed as currently contemplated, that the Company will derive the expected benefits from the JDA and partnership with Rio Tinto, that the successful development of a graphene aluminium ion battery pack will yield the expected benefits and be applicable to the anticipated industries, and that the next stages of the development program rollout will align with management’s expectations. Additionally, forward-looking information involves a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements of GMG to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, without limitation: that the launch of the promotional video will differ for management’s expectations, that the JDA and partnership with Rio Tinto will not continue as currently contemplated, that OEMs will not participate in the development of the Company’s products, that the Company will be unable to successfully develop a graphene aluminium ion battery pack, or that a graphene aluminium ion battery pack will not provide the expected benefits or be applicable to the expected industries, that the development program rollout will not proceed to the next stages, risks relating to the extent and duration of the conflict in Eastern Europe and its impact on global markets, the volatility of global capital markets, political instability, the failure of the Company to obtain regulatory approvals, attract and retain skilled personnel, unexpected development and production challenges, unanticipated costs and the risk factors set out under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s annual information form dated October 12, 2023 available for review on the Company’s profile at www.sedarplus.ca.
Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor.
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