TLG - Talga Group

Yes Mark Thompson is talking up his own book. However I think the facts are compelling.

What has happened to the Performance options for Talga management and staff ?

What will the New Year bring for Talga ? The Vittangi project has finally got approvals and all appeals have been exhausted.

The Talga board has already gained around 30% funding for the project via Government grants and soft loans. The Board is now looking for off take commitments from customers and it seems is looking for a strategic partnership that would ensure a long term place as a European provider of anodes for European EV battery production. As far as I can see it is the only major player in this field.

Nothing is guaranteed . But on balance one would expect that the company will be able to secure finance and customers. And then it will take around 2 years to complete the build.

On the share front I think there is a base at 42c. From what i have seen when the price drops below that level there are buyers who come into the market and push the price back up.

If/when there are announcements of offtake agreements /strategic partnerships the SP should almost certainly double. These announcements would represent a crystalisation of the business case. So in theory at 44c there is little down side and substantial upside for Talga in 2025

We'll see.

Cleantech for Nordics' research suggests there were more than 200 investments in clean tech projects in Sweden in 2023.

...
no mention of Talga, not in the top league

Why am I choosing Talga again for the 2025 comp?

At some stage, hopefully soon, Talga will announce off take arrangements and complete financing for their Anode project. Surely that should see a significant increase in SP.

Interesting close to trading on Friday for Talga. There was a 100,000 share purchase at 3.58 which cleaned up ato of shares and pushed the final price to 44c. Throughout the day there were another significant number of buys that supported or pushed the SP back up.

Talga will be pivotal In terms of supporting EU development of local battery production. There just isn't any other development within a bulls roar of their ore quality, supply capacity and proven technical skills to produce high quality battery anodes.

The decision by the US to effectively black list CATL as a battery supplier can only add to the need to made Talga work for the EU and broader regions.

Mark Thompson posted on X boosting the following video. It seems like a way of highlighting how critical Talgas role would be in offering high quality graphite battery anodes for the battery industry.

Where are the take off agreements ? Is there a strategic partnership in the wings ? How determined are the EU and non Chinese countries in developing alternative battery supplies for their EV cars and other large scale battery production ? Certainly on a strictly economic basis China's battery industry is streaking away from the rest of the world.

The EU is fast tracking extensive industry support to ensure EU production of critical Clean Technology components of their de-carbonisation policy. Clearly a massive Talga battery anode production line (far bigger than 20,000 tons PA) would be a key part of this future.

The full document is a good read

good run for TLG over the past few days ... closed at day's high

There was a specific reason for the jump in SP on Friday.

Despite the approval of the Graphite Mine and project and substantial Government support for the proposed plant ($70m Eu) the local Council had been dragging its feet on establishing an overall mining plan for the region.

Yesterday the Swedish Government stepped in and instructed the Council to implement the Mining Plan they were currently sitting on.

ASX Release
ASX:TLG
24 January 2025
Government decision to adopt detailed plan for Nunasvaara South graphite mine
Talga Group Ltd (“Talga” or “the Company”) (ASX:TLG) is pleased to advise that the Swedish Government has instructed Kiruna Municipality to adopt the detailed plan for its Nunasvaara South natural graphite mine in northern Sweden.

In 2024, Talga submitted a planning injunction to the Swedish Ministry of Agriculture and Infrastructure to effectively address delays in the process of adopting the detailed plan and Kiruna Municipality’s subsequent decision to suspend the planning work. The government’s decision instructs Kiruna Municipality to now adopt the detailed plan no later than 16 May 2025.

Talga Group CEO, Martin Phillips, commented: “In the government decision it is pleasing to see that Ebba Busch, Minister for Energy, Business and Industry, considers the graphite that Talga intends to produce is a key material in the manufacture of batteries. Additionally, we agree with the Minister for Infrastructure and Housing, Andreas Carlson, pointing out that the European battery industry is currently dependent on imports, while China intends to impose export restrictions that could jeopardise the entire battery value chain.
It was also pleasing to see the government has made this decision based on the fact that the area is of national interest for the extraction of valuable substances and materials. We look forward to continue working with Kiruna
Government decision to adopt detailed plan for graphite mine (PDF 120.2 KB)

More regarding the Swedish Gov decision to demand the Local Council implement the Mining Plan. See link below

There are a number of responses to the Swedish Government decision to make this project happen in the link I posted
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Kiruna municipal councilor Mats Taaveniku (S) believes that the municipality does not get anything for saying yes to a mine and would like to see some compensation from the mining company, for example in the form of housing.

The decision is special. It is the first time the government has used the Planning and Building Act in this way, according to Carlson. The municipality has until May 16 to comply, otherwise the County Administrative Board will be assigned the task, at the municipality's expense.

Last fall, when Talga received its environmental permit, the company said that it should be able to have an anode factory in Luleå, where the graphite will be shipped, up and running in 18–24 months once the detailed plan is approved.

There are a few more stories at thestockexchange talga thread which explore the determination of the Swedish government to see Talga build its anode plant. The EU has decided it must source it's own battery technology rather than being beholden to China. Talga's high quality, clean energy graphite plant will produce anodes competitively and at far lower environmental cost.

To date the EU has already granted Talga 70m EURO for its plant. There are a range of other soft loans as well as,hopefully, offtake agreements and suggestion of a strategic partnership. As I see it the Swedish government and the EU are very focused on making this plant happen. The combination of quality graphite vertically integrated into the volume production of a range of competitive battery anodes is a compelling argument.

In that context there could well be further support for the build.

Still some action in Talga with progressing their Talnode process (If it ever gets going ..

27 February 2025
Talga signs non-binding MoU to secure recycled graphite for battery material innovation
Battery materials and technology company Talga Group Ltd (“Talga” or “the Company”) (ASX:TLG) is pleased to advise it has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (“MoU”) with Altilium Clean Technology Ltd (“Altilium”) to secure a sustainable supply of recycled graphite for its innovative Talnode®-C Recycled Series.

Talga is one of the first companies in the world to successfully demonstrate the ability to process recycled graphite for use in battery anode products. The Company is currently completing a commercial study, supported by grant funding from Innovate UK, on producing Li-ion battery anode products using recycled graphite sourced from black mass recyclers. This would respond to the increasing volume of graphite waste in black mass stockpiles and increased customer demand for Talnode®-C Recycled Series as a complement to Talga’s natural graphite anode product, Talnode®-C.

Under the MoU framework Altilium proposes to supply Talga with up to 16,000 tonnes of recycled graphite over three years commencing 2026, with an initial 2,000 tonnes available in 2025 to support pre-commercial customer sample production. The MoU establishes indicative terms for negotiating a binding contract, which will include a floating price mechanism with agreed floor and ceiling levels, by 12 February 2026. Any binding contract will be subject to certain conditions precedent and should binding agreements be entered into the Company will release details in accordance with its disclosure obligations at that time.

Talga Group CEO, Martin Phillips, commented: “Access to recycled graphite feedstock supports the expansion and diversification of Talga’s anode business. We are pleased to deepen our relationship with Altilium as we continue to make progress in our mission to provide a range of greener, more efficient battery materials. This development also showcases our innovative process technology and complements the ongoing execution of our flagship natural graphite anode project.”

Altilium, backed by leading Japanese trading and investment group Marubeni Corporation and SQM Lithium Ventures, part of world-leading lithium producer Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (SQM), is a UK-based clean technology group. Altilium recycles batteries from two major UK car manufacturers and Gigafactory waste at its Tavistock and Plymouth sites. Its upcoming Teesside site will be one of Europe's largest, with plans to process battery scrap from over 150,000 EVs annually.

Altilium COO, Dr Christian Marston,commented: “Partnering with Talga aligns with our mission to create a fully circular supply chain for anode materials and builds on our recent success in supplying upcycled cathode active materials (CAM) for validation by a leading OEM. By supplying high purity recycled graphite, we are not only reducing waste and emissions, but also supporting the growth of a sustainable anode material supply chain locally. This collaboration demonstrates the increasing demand for recycled battery materials as the industry moves toward greater resource efficiency and allows us to support automakers with their sustainability targets.”

By integrating recycled graphite into its advanced anode production processes, Talga can broaden its battery materials portfolio whilst reinforcing its market leadership in sustainability and innovation. The strategic collaboration with battery recyclers, such as Altilium, enables Talga to leverage synergies between new and recycled graphite feedstocks, accelerating the scalability of its anode operations and paving the way for global expansion.

This development also aligns with the EU’s sustainability goals and policies, including the Critical Raw Materials Act, which sets a 2030 benchmark to source 25% of the EU’s strategic raw materials from recycled sources. Additionally, the EU’s Battery Regulation sets a target of at least 70% overall lithium-ion battery recycling efficiency by the end of this decade. By transforming spent and waste graphite into high-quality anode material Talga is positioned to play a pivotal role in EV companies, battery manufacturers and recyclers achieving these requirements.

Latest webinar presentations available.
Highlights have to be the desperate situation the EU faces to become self sufficient in critical industries. Talga graphite anodes are one of those products




Other interesting tidbit is the progress of the Talnode Silicon product.

It appears that the local Council in Kirna is going along with the Vittangi mine. Maybe... Given the relentless obstruction they have proffered to date we should take a wait and see approach.

Pasted from

Kiruna opens graphite mine in Vittangi
LULEÅ. Kiruna plans to bow to the government's demands and approve the graphite mine in Vittangi. But the decision is not set in stone.
“A direction can be changed,” says the chairman of the municipal board, Mats Taaveniku (S).
Updated: March 6, 2025, 2:57 PM"

Kiruna öppnar för grafitgruva i Vittangi ​

LULEÅ. Kiruna planerar att vika sig för regeringens krav och godkänna grafitgruvan i Vittangi. Men beslutet är inte hugget i sten. ”En inriktning kan ändras”, säger kommunstyrelsens ordförande Mats Taaveniku (S).

"A mining project could be on the cards in the European Capital of Culture in 2029: The municipality of Kiruna wants to give in to the government's demands and authorise a graphite mine in Vittangi, writes Dagens Industri"

Kiruna öppnar för grafitgruva – och ska bli kulturhuvudstad ​

Ett gruvbygge kan stå för dörren i det som är utsett till Europas kulturhuvudstad 2029: Kiruna kommun planerar att vika sig för regeringens krav och godkänna en grafitgruva i Vittangi, skriver Dagens industri. Beslutet är dock inte hugget i sten.

www.byggindustrin.se

"The municipality of Kiruna now intends to comply with the order..."

The world is spinning on it's Axis. Europe has learnt the US is well and truly in bed with Russia and that their survival depends on their economic independence and willingness to collectively defend their countries against both Russia and the US.

In that context this post on another forum highlights the value Talga offers to Sweden and the EU.

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This last week has been insane geopolitically. And I've been thinking more and more about the impact it's going to have on Talga and we shouldn't underestimate it.

The name of the game for Europe now is strategic independence.

In EVERY. POSSIBLE. WAY.

Europe no longer has the space to fluff about on things because of minor gripes from NIMBY groups or noise minorities.
They need to gear their economies up.
They need to gear their militaries up.
And they need to do it as fast as possible because their safety (ignorance) blanket just got yanked out from underneath them (pardon the pun and metaphor mixing )

CRMA may be the framework within which it happens, but I expect to see any project that an increase Europe's independence given an escort of bulldozers.

I'm not trying to sensationalize things. Europe has quite literally declared that they consider conflict with Russia a serious, legitimate threat now, and they just got their pants pulled down by the Americans. They are a decade behind in building their military and they don't have the institutional frameworks currently in place to allow them to accelerate back to where they should be.

In this context, any plan that can contribute to closing this gap WILL be moved forwards. Stupid excesses of bureaucracy or NIMBYism will be overruled. Sorry Sami, but unless your reindeer are now all TAR ('Tactical Assault Reindeer' of course) that can smell Russians, your unchecked overreaching claims to exclusive use of the entirety of the region are no longer a valid excuse to hold up a project. And a permit approval being delayed because someone is sick? Fuk that, strategic projects will be in-force immediately appeals can happen after and will be a lot tougher.

Mark Thompson is also noting the change in investment sentiment in Europe

Mark Thompson presentation at Euroz Hartleys Institutional Conference.
Mostly a rehash but Mark also highlights the demand that will come from Europe re arming rapidly and the heightened need to ensure secure local battery requirements.

Presentation at Euroz Hartleys Institutional Conference (PDF 5,526.2 KB)

Another very big kick along for Talga. The breakdown of the US alliance with Europe is strongly focusing the EU on strategic independence across all levels of industrial/military/economic spheres.
Talga has been chosen as one of the industries to get fast tracked approvals and additional financial support through the Critical Raw Materials Act

Talga’s natural graphite mine awarded EU Strategic Project status
Battery materials and technology company Talga Group Ltd (“Talga” or “the Company”) (ASX:TLG) is pleased to announce that its natural graphite mine in northern Sweden has been awarded Strategic Project status under the European Commission’s Critical Raw Materials (CRM) Act.

This landmark recognition underscores the project’s strategic value for Europe to secure its battery materials supply chain and significantly enhances Talga’s pathway to finalising project financing and development.

The CRM Act, enacted to bolster the EU’s autonomy in critical raw materials essential for clean energy technologies, grants Strategic Projects a range of benefits. For Talga, this designation will see a high level of project facilitation being provided to the Company’s mine development plans including:

• Improved access to financing; through a subgroup of the CRM Board coordinating EU and national, private and public financial institutions to support the completion of project financing.
• Enhanced appeal to partners, institutions and customers; strengthening ongoing discussions with debt providers, strategic investors, customers and government backed funding programs.
• Expedited permitting; streamlining approvals and derisking timelines.

Talga Group CEO, Martin Phillips, commented: “The Strategic Project status validates Talga’s natural graphite mine and our vital role in sustainable battery materials. Graphite is critical to the lithium-ion battery industry and an increased EU capacity to extract and produce battery grade graphite is essential for Europe's resilience and competitiveness. We look forward to engaging with new opportunities under the CRMA to deliver Europe’s first fully integrated active anode supply.”

Talga CEOMark Thompson is off to the races..




Mark Thompson

@dinosaurman1


Yes! @Talga_Ltd #graphite project in Sweden receives EU "Strategic project for raw materials" status under the Critical Raw Materials Act. On plane tomorrow for range of meets including new funding opportunities, new customers and onshoring of EU battery materials $TLG $TLG.ax
https://x.com/dinosaurman1/status/1904480208641741002/photo/1