Siri Hedreen / The Outlook
Westwater Resources' Coosa Graphite Project is located on a 42,000-acre mineral rights package in western Coosa County along the historic Alabama Graphite Belt. Gov. Kay Ivey is set to announce the location of the company's processing plant on the other side of Coosa County near Kellyton Tuesday.Â
Mining company Westwater Resources is set to build its flagship processing plant just outside Alexander City in Kellyton after months of back-and-forth between the company, Lake Martin Area Economic Development Alliance (LMAEDA), local municipalities and the state.
The news brings Coosa County one step closer to becoming the sole U.S. source of graphite, a key battery ingredient found in laptops, mobile phones and electric vehicles.Â
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Graphite, a critical mineral in the green economy accounting for 200 pounds of the weight of…
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Graphite mining company Westwater Resources has already cracked the surface in western Coosa…