en.Wedoany.com Reported - Northern Graphite, a natural battery materials producer headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, has completed the relocation of its Namibia processing plant to the Okanjande mine site, marking the first step toward restarting production by 2027.

The relocation plan was based on a 2023 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA), which confirmed the technical and economic feasibility of moving the processing plant. The company stated that the new site eliminates the need for long-distance transport of raw materials, reducing operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

Northern Graphite CEO Hugues Jacquemin said the plant equipment is now in place at the mine site, and the company is advancing production preparations while strengthening the supply base for the planned BAM plant joint venture in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. That facility targets initial production by 2028 as part of Northern Graphite's mine-to-battery strategy.

Okanjande graphite is expected to serve traditional industrial uses as well as the expanding national security and battery materials markets.

Jacquemin added that Okanjande boasts a large graphite resource in one of Africa's most politically stable jurisdictions, with access to a deep-water port, offering substantial competitive advantages over many rival projects. Completing the plant relocation further de-risks the restart strategy, enabling the company to move quickly to support a secure graphite supply chain independent of China.