ASX ANNOUNCEMENT - 25 March 2015 -
Kibaran Resources Ltd. (ASX: KNL) is pleased to advise that TanzGraphiteTM has been accepted for registration by IP Australia and as such is now a trademark of the Company.
TanzGraphite is also the name of Kibaran's Tanzanian entity and will be the global brand name used for marketing both the company's natural large flake graphite originating from Tanzania and all its downstream products.
The trademark will be the identifier for all products using the company's graphite sourced from its Epanko, Merelani and Tanga projects.
Graphite demand is forecast to grow 8.6% each year until 2020 , driven by the development of mega battery factories that will need spherical graphite as a key input, the use of expanded graphite in energy efficient building products, the technology sectors, and the development of the dynamic new material, graphene (refer announcement 23rd March 2015).
All testwork to date supports the use of TanzGraphiteTM from the Epanko graphite deposit in each of these markets due to the premium quality that has an unrivalled melting point and purity, making it suitable for every known industrial application. Epanko's carbon purity is the highest reported among its peer group and will provide significant advantages to the requirements of the emerging battery market.
TanzGraphiteTM products will be exclusively used by 3D Graphtech Industries to evaluate graphite inks in the fast growing 3D printing sector. 3D Graphtech Industries is strategically positioning itself for participation in a newly emerging high tech frontier and is owned equally by Kibaran and 333D Pty Ltd (refer to ASX announcement 24 June 2014). 333D Pty Ltd is currently undertaking a transaction with Oz Brewing (ASX:OZB).
In addition to the existing off-take and sales agreements Kibaran has secured in the sophisticated European market, the company is currently in discussion with a number of organisations regarding partnerships in the battery manufacturing industry.
A TanzGraphiteTM specimen from the Epanko graphite deposit is in the process of being included within the mineral collection of The Museum für Naturkunde Berlin (Natural History Museum of Berlin). The museums' interest stems from TanzGraphite'sTM origin from a geological mineral occurrence unique to Tanzania and resultant premium graphite characteristics.
Executive Director Andrew Spinks commented "Obtaining the TanzGraphiteTM trademark positions Kibaran to internationally brand the company's premium quality graphite as uniquely Tanzanian, in preparation for graphite sales."
For further information, please contact:
Company Secretary: Robert Hodby
Kibaran Resources
P: + 61 8 6380 1003
Media Relations
Rebecca Lawson, M&C Partners
P: +61 2 8916 6124
E: rebecca.lawson@mcpartners.com.au
