Australian Company Announces Plans To Build Graphite Plant In Vidalia, La.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards announced last week that Melbourne, Australia-based Syrah Resources has selected a site in Vidalia, La., across the Mississippi River from Natchez, Miss., for a new $25 million graphite processing facility.
The plant in Vidalia, which is located in Concordia Parish, will produce graphite materials for batteries used in electric vehicles, according to the announcement from Louisiana Economic Development (LED). Syrah Resources plans to purchase a 50,000-square-foot building near Vidalia Port for its initial processing plant, with the possibility for expansion in the future.
LED estimates the project will create 25 new direct jobs and 30 new indirect jobs.
“Syrah Resources is the latest international company to find that Louisiana is a great place for business investment,” Edwards said in the announcement. “We have attracted over $42 billion in foreign direct investment since 2010, and these international investments are responsible for 73,400 jobs in Louisiana, including more than 20,000 in the manufacturing sector. This innovative project is a welcome addition to Louisiana’s manufacturing portfolio.”
Just last month, Syrah Resources launched the Balama Graphite Project, a flake graphite mine located in northern Mozambique. The Balama project is one of the largest graphite stores in the world. Syrah Resources plans to mine the graphite in Mozambique and ship it to the Vidalia facility to be processed. At the facility in Concordia Parish, the material will refined into “high-purity spherical graphite for use in battery anodes, with a focus on customers in the automotive industry,” according to LED.
“Syrah originally identified Louisiana as a preferred location due to a strong manufacturing and experienced employment base, attractive utility and raw material supply opportunities, an extensive logistics network, and most importantly a focus on development from government and community,” said Shaun Verner, CEO of Syrah Resources. “All of these elements have been clearly demonstrated in the interactions we have had in Vidalia, and we are very positive about the long-term benefit of locating here.”
Joe Coussan, public information officer for marketing and communications for LED, said he anticipates the raw materials bound for the Vadalia plant will be imported either through the Port of New Orleans or the Port of South Louisiana, then transported by barge, rail or truck.
“When the graphite is refined, it will be sent by way of rail, truck or barge to battery manufacturers located in domestic and international locations, many of which are suppliers for companies in the electric vehicle industry,” Coussan said.
The state attracted the project through a combination of tax incentives and LED’s FastStart workforce training program. Also jointly supporting the project are Concordia Economic Development and Natchez Inc. The two local economic development agencies partner on projects that benefit the “Miss-Lou Region,” which spans the Mississippi River in Central Louisiana and Southwest Mississippi.
