Corporate Update

Tirupati Graphite PLC

07 March 2024

 

7 March 2024

Tirupati Graphite plc

('Tirupati', 'TG' or the 'Company')

Corporate Update

Tirupati Graphite plc (TGR.L, TGRHF.OTCQX), the specialist flake graphite company and supplier of the critical mineral for the global energy transition, provides the following corporate update.

Since its IPO in December 2020, the Company has developed and commissioned two graphite projects in Madagascar with minimal Capex to establish Tirupati as one of the five largest, non-China graphite companies by production capacity and one of only three publicly listed commercial scale producers. This was achieved despite the challenge of unexpectedly extreme weather in early 2022 which caused material delays and increased costs.

In addition to commissioning the Madagascar projects, the Company has acquired two development stage projects in Mozambique which host higher percentages of finer flake graphite used in lithium ion batteries with the potential to provide the Company with sufficient resources to achieve its long term goal of establishing capacity equivalent  to 8% of global demand  across its projects in Madagascar and Mozambique in the longer-term, equivalent to circa 400,000tpa per research by various sources which suggest overall global flake graphite demand is to exceed 5,000,000tpa by 2030.

As announced in January 2024, operations in Madagascar continue across the two projects having been optimised further using the proceeds of the recent fundraise (see 17 January 2024 RNS). The Company remains engaged in pursuing options to secure additional funding for the balance of c. £1 Million working capital required to bring its production up to the immediate target of 1,500 - 1,600 tons per month on a consistent basis and for immediate term growth in capacity at Madagascar in two stages from the current 30,000tpa capacity to 36,000 tpa initially, and 54,000 tpa subsequently. Discussions that are well-progressed to this end are:

·    Recent meetings with the Madagascar Government for the release of VAT refunds of c. $2m have further added confidence that these will be returned to the Company imminently;

·    Establishment of working capital facilities from the Company's bankers in Madagascar being progressed supported by a personal guarantee being agreed to be provided from the Executive Chairman; and

·    Due diligence work continues with DFI's for funding the expansion of the Company's effective production at Madagascar first to 36,000tpa in the near term and then to 54,000tpa thereafter through the addition of a new 18,000 tpa module.

Further announcement will be made in due course as the company continues to secure these financial arrangements. 

Responding to recent speculation, the Company confirms that there are no plans to take the Company private, and emphasises that the board continue to believe that being listed on the London Stock Exchange will continue to helpthe Company to build its business in the best interest of its shareholders in general.

Shishir Poddar, Executive Chairman, said:

"Since the admission to the London Stock Exchange in December 2020, the Company has achieved significant milestones towards its goals.

"I remain absolutely dedicated and committed to the short and long-term prospects for Tirupati; our developments will support the global needs for this critical mineral. The team is determined to make the Company the leading graphite producer outside of China and to play an essential role in the energy transition.

"We have overcome significant operational challenges. We are now working to secure the modest amount of working capital required to ramp-up production with the target of becoming the first profitable junior graphite company outside China.  We remain committed to being a public company and to the London market.

"I wish to thank our shareholders for their support of Tirupati since the listing on the London Market.  I remain excited and ambitious about the Company's long-term prospects and to rewarding your faith in our Company."

ENDS

For further information, please visit https://www.tirupatigraphite.co.uk/ or contact:

Tirupati Graphite Plc Puruvi Poddar - Joint Managing Director	[e-mail] [phone]
Optiva Securities Limited (Broker) Ben Maitland - Corporate Finance	[phone]
FTI Consulting (Financial PR) Ben Brewerton / Nick Hennis / Lucy Wigney	[phone] [e-mail]

About Tirupati Graphite

Tirupati Graphite Plc is a specialist Graphite producer and a supplier of the critical mineral for a decarbonised economy and the energy transition. The Company places a special emphasis on green applications including renewable energy, e-mobility, energy storage and thermal management, and is committed to ensuring its operations are sustainable.

The Company's operations include primary mining and processing in Madagascar where the Company operates two key projects, Sahamamy and Vatomina with a combined 30,000 tpa of currently installed capacity, producing high-quality flake graphite concentrate with up to 97% purity and selling to customers globally.

The Company also holds two advanced stage, world class, natural graphite projects in Mozambique. Work has already commenced to optimise the economics for development of the Montepuez graphite project, which is permitted for 100,000tpa production and where substantial construction work has already been undertaken by the predecessor.

 

END