Ukraine’s BGV IG plans to construct plant to produce graphite concentrate, spherical graphite

Ukraine's BGV Group Management investment company plans to launch construction in 2024 on a plant to produce graphite concentrate and spherical graphite at the Balakhovsky deposit in the Kirovograd Region, Ukrainian media reported, citing a BGV press release.

"Under the Balakhovsky project, the BGV team is currently conducting the second stage of pilot testing on the concentrator and completing the design of the production complex and pilot testing of graphite samples. The company plans next year to begin construction on one of the largest production complexes in Europe," BGV said.

According to company data, the enterprise should have annual capacity of 50,000 tonnes of graphite concentrate and 19,000 tonnes of spherical graphite for lithium-ion batteries. The company expects the volume to meet a substantial part of the demand on the European Union market.

BGV is also working on a preliminary feasibility study for a mining project at the Perzhansky beryllium deposit in the Zhitomir Region. According to the data, reserves total 2.34 million tonnes of ore, and there are zinc and rare earth elements.

BGV Group Management is an investment company that develops businesses and projects in the sectors of mining, processing/refining, energy efficiency, retail, and development. Gennady Butkevich is the founder and a co-owner of ATB, which is Ukraine's largest grocery retailer.