POSCO Future M to Produce Graphite Using Methane

MOU Signed with Molten
Cost Reduction and Supply Chain Diversification through Non-Mining Methods

POSCO Future M is launching an initiative to develop a new type of natural graphite anode material that does not rely on traditional mining extraction.

On the 11th, Posco Future M and Molten signed a memorandum of understanding for the joint development of natural graphite anode material using methane gas at COEX in Seoul. From the left in the photo, Youngjun Hong, Head of the Research Institute at Posco Future M, and Caleb Boyd, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Molten. Courtesy of Posco Future M

On March 11, POSCO Future M announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with US-based Molten for the joint development of natural graphite anode material using methane gas.

The signing ceremony was attended by Youngjun Hong, Head of Technology Research Institute at POSCO Future M; Kevin Bush, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Molten; Caleb Boyd, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Molten; and other key representatives from both companies.

Through this agreement, the two companies plan to combine POSCO Future M’s expertise in anode materials with Molten’s methane gas-based graphite production technology to strengthen the raw material supply chain. Under this structure, Molten will produce graphite by thermally decomposing methane gas, which POSCO Future M will then process into spherical graphite via its subsidiary Future Graph, before manufacturing natural graphite anode materials at its Sejong plant.

Graphite produced using methane gas has the advantage of containing fewer metallic impurities compared to graphite extracted through mining, thereby reducing the need for purification processes. This is expected to lower the production cost of natural graphite anode materials. In addition, the hydrogen generated during methane gas pyrolysis could potentially be used for power generation or as part of POSCO’s hydrogen reduction steelmaking process, suggesting possible group-wide synergy effects.

Youngjun Hong, Head of Technology Research Institute at POSCO Future M, stated, “Until now, we have relied on mined graphite, but by combining our material and raw material technologies, we will secure key materials through a new approach. We will enhance our competitiveness in the global market by diversifying the supply chain and reducing costs.”

Molten is a company headquartered in California, USA, that possesses technology to produce graphite through methane gas pyrolysis.

POSCO Future M is working to internalize the anode material raw material supply chain by leveraging the POSCO Group’s capabilities. For natural graphite anode materials, it is establishing a system where raw materials sourced from Africa and other regions are processed into spherical graphite by Future Graph. For artificial graphite anode materials, it utilizes coal- and petroleum-based coke produced from coal tar generated in the steelmaking process.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.