Dean Hanisch CEO FOCUS GRAPHITE ADVANCED MATERIALS
What have been your priorities since joining Focus Graphite as CEO?
I started at Focus Graphite in January 2025 with the goal of commercializing its silicon-enhanced battery technology. The company is focusing on joint ventures with universities and private firms to validate the technology while advancing the Lac Knife project, which is nearing the end of its Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA). Focus is also securing offtake agreements and advancing downstream qualification for high-value graphite applications. Meanwhile, substantial drilling at Tétépisca supports an upcoming mineral resource update, which may confirm it as one of the largest graphite deposits in North America. How is Focus advancing commercial partnerships, including with C4V?
The C4V partnership is crucial for validating performance in complex battery environments. It also enables OEMs to assess Focus’s graphite through a trusted system, facilitating transparency, adoption, and a streamlined path to market. What is the latest progress at the Lac Knife project?
The Lac Knife deposit is known for its exceptionally pure graphite, which can be thermally processed without chemicals, preserving flake integrity for high-performance applications in defense and aerospace.
Moreover, the purity and composition of Lac Knife’s graphite offer a green processing advantage. Sulfides on the flake surfaces are burned off using thermal bed fluidization, producing gypsum as a byproduct - this sustainable method eliminates the need for chemical leaching or acids, reducing environmental impact and processing costs. What is the status of the Tétépisca project?
At Tétépisca, Focus Graphite has completed extensive drilling and is now awaiting final assay results to update the mineral resource estimate. The company is also conducting a pioneering flake characterization study to analyze flake size and distribution across the deposit. In parallel, a pilot processing program will be run at the American Energy Technologies Company in Illinois using ore samples, with a qualified metallurgist overseeing the work.
Gordana Slepcev CEO LOMIKO METALS
Could you update us on Lomiko’s graphite projects?
At La Loutre, our objective is to complete pre-feasibility level engineering studies by the end of Q1 2026. Meanwhile, we are advancing towards a PEA for our downstream processing activities. How does Lomiko’s new Yellow Fox project enhance its portfolio?
Antimony, the primary commodity at our recently acquired Yellow Fox project, is on China’s list of restricted exports, like graphite. Few other mines in Canada are currently extracting this critical mineral. The project is located approximately 25 km northeast of the former-producing Beaver Brook antimony mine.
Historic results at Yellow Fox illustrate the property's potential, including 11% antimony, 60 g/t gold, 72 g/t silver, 7% zinc, and 5.5% lead. Our objective is to expand the land package and conduct new sampling to identify priority zones. Based on the results, we will proceed with geophysical surveying, followed by drilling.
Antimony has a wide range of applications, including as a hardener in alloys and in various automotive components. Demand has risen in recent years, with approximately 50% of global antimony production used in solar panel manufacturing. Could you tell us more about your planned PEA on downstream mineral processing?
Our efforts extend beyond mining – we are developing anode materials and battery technologies. In collaboration with downstream partners, we are working towards a PEA for this. That includes research and development, testing innovations, and scaling up laboratory work.
One area of focus is our graphite air classification research. Unlike traditional processing, which relies on crushing, grinding and flotation, our method eliminates the use of water. Although still in its early stages, this approach is promising, and we continue to advance our investigations.
These research initiatives, along with our feasibility studies and scale-up efforts, have received funding from the US Department of Defense and Canada’s Critical Mineral Research, Development and Demonstration program. We also continue to secure working capital through private placements and other financing mechanisms.