Graphite One Builds Ohio Plant to Cut US Reliance on Imported Graphite

Graphite One is expanding its US production of graphite anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. The company has secured a site in Conneaut, Ohio, for its new Active Anode Materials facility. This move comes as the US currently relies entirely on imports for natural graphite. The Ohio facility will be built in two phases. Phase One aims for 10,000 tonnes of annual production, covering various anode material types. Construction is set to finish by the fourth quarter of 2027.

Phase Two will follow in the third quarter of 2028, boosting capacity to 25,000 tonnes per year. The chosen site offers key advantages, including direct access to Lake Erie, connections to multiple CN rail lines, and an existing electrical substation. Graphite One has already delivered commercial-grade anode samples to six major companies for testing. Binding offtake discussions are underway with some of these firms, though no final agreements have been reached. The company’s supply chain model links its Graphite Creek deposit in Alaska to Ohio via the Port of Nome.

Once operational, the Ohio facility will help reduce US dependence on imported graphite. The project’s phased expansion targets 25,000 tonnes of annual graphitization capacity by late 2028. Testing and potential offtake agreements with major companies remain in progress.