Global Battery Materials Corp. (GBM) has signed a non-binding Letter of Intent (LOI) with South Korean battery technology and manufacturing company LiBEST. The agreement will explore the evaluation and potential commercial supply of natural graphite, coated spherical purified graphite (CSPG), and other anode materials sourced and processed entirely outside China.
The materials are intended for high-growth applications, including energy, defence, AI infrastructure, and electric vehicles. The LOI establishes a framework for evaluating materials, potential commercial supply, and related development activities, and supports efforts to build a more resilient battery supply chain insulated from geopolitical disruption. The collaboration may also support qualification pathways for GBM’s anode materials across allied-government and defence-related supply chains.
The LOI builds on a prior Memorandum of Understanding between the two companies, which established a framework for collaboration on battery materials testing, anode product development, supply chain engagement, and participation in government programs. Under this framework, LiBEST will evaluate GBM’s graphite and anode materials to strengthen its ex-China supply chain and address applicable U.S. Foreign Entity of Concern (“FEOC”) requirements.
“LiBEST is a frontier battery technology company with a proven ability to design and mass-produce high-performance batteries. They are an ideal partner as we scale our graphite anode materials business,” said Eric Miller, Chief Executive Officer of GBM. “GBM continues to invest in our anode pilot plant and in developing new product and process IP in Korea. Since launching at the beginning of this year, we have moved quickly to qualify our product with customers urgently seeking a reliable anode supply outside China. In partnership with LiBEST, we are well positioned to meet the lithium-ion battery industry’s exacting standards.”
GBM’s pilot production plant and R&D facility in South Korea has validated its patented anode processing technology and shipped battery-grade anode material to Tier-1 battery manufacturers for technical qualification — a track record that positions GBM to meet the safety, scale, and performance requirements of advanced battery customers.
“Our customers have high standards for battery safety and performance, and securing a reliable, resilient supply of ex-China graphite and anode materials is increasingly important,” said Dr. Joo-Seong (Elon) Kim, Chief Executive Officer of LiBEST. “Through our collaboration with GBM, we plan to evaluate its graphite and anode materials for potential use in select high-performance battery applications and to strengthen our North American supply chain options.”
The close proximity of LiBEST and GBM’s R&D and pilot operations in South Korea is expected to streamline technical communication and accelerate material evaluation and development for both companies.
GBM’s supply strategy is underpinned by its growing mine-to-market platform. The Company is advancing the restart of the Kearney Mine in Ontario as part of a vertically integrated platform spanning critical mineral mining and anode materials processing. The initiative follows two recent Kearney Mine milestones: a positive Preliminary Economic Assessment and a Letter of Agreement with five First Nations supporting responsible development, including potential equity investment.
Global Battery Materials Corp. (GBM) is a vertically integrated critical minerals and battery technology company building an ex-China supply chain spanning natural graphite to anode materials. The Company’s platform comprises critical mineral assets in Canada, a battery materials laboratory in Québec, and patented anode processing technology piloted in South Korea and slated for scale-up in North America. GBM serves the energy storage, defence, industrial, and electric-vehicle battery markets. Learn more at www.globalbatterymaterials.com.
LiBEST is a next-generation battery technology and manufacturing company headquartered in Daejeon, South Korea. The company develops high-performance batteries based on its capabilities in materials, processes, cell design, and manufacturing. Leveraging its high-energy-density, high-safety battery and next-generation cell technologies, LiBEST provides battery solutions for a wide range of applications, including aerospace, defence, mobility, wearables, semiconductors, and robotics.
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