Lincoln advances graphite R&D at Kookaburra

Lincoln Minerals has received a $203,000 research and development (R&D) rebate from the Australian Tax Office for its Kookaburra graphite project.

This funding is for its work on producing high-purity graphite from Kookaburra, which is situated on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula.

The rebate, which applies to expenditure incurred in the 2023–24 financial year, will help fund further development of high-purity graphite production.

The company is evaluating new processes to manufacture specialty graphite products, including dry or conductivity lubricants, carbon brushes, plastics, power metallurgy, drilling fluids, alkali batteries, and foundry materials.

Lincoln Minerals is also aiming to produce a high-grade purified spherical graphite product suitable for use in battery anode material (BAM) manufacturing.

“The R&D rebate will support further development of the production of high purity graphite as well as support the current assaying of historic core samples from Minbrie for copper, lead, zinc, and silver, for which assay results will be reported over the next 8 to 10 weeks as results emerge,” the company said.

The Minbrie assays could provide further exploration upside for Lincoln as it advances its graphite and base metals projects in South Australia.

Aiming to become a key graphite producer in the future, Lincoln released a pre-feasibility study for the Kookaburra project in October 2024.

Kookaburra has a measured and indicated mineral resource of approximately 12.8 million tonnes, grading at 7.6 per cent total graphitic carbon.

The staged development approach detailed in the PFS involves starting with an annual production of 75,000 tonnes, with future expansion targeting 500,000 tonnes per annum.

This strategy allows Lincoln to balance initial capital expenditures with gradual market entry and meet rising demand in the EV battery sector.

Financial projections in the PFS show a promising pre-tax net present value (NPV) of $114 million and an internal rate of return (IRR) of 41 per cent, underscoring the project’s viability even as graphite markets evolve.