EcoGraf Secures India Patent for HFfree Technology

EcoGraf Secures India Patent for HFfree® Technology, Advancing Its Position in Ex-China Battery Supply Chains

EcoGraf Limited (ASX: EGR; FSE: FMK) has secured a significant intellectual property milestone, with The Patent Office, Government of India granting the company a patent for its proprietary EcoGraf HFfree technology patent in India. The patent, numbered 587710, forms part of EcoGraf's first patent family ("Patent Family 1") and carries a 20-year term expiring 14 May 2041. This latest grant adds India — one of the world's fastest-growing battery markets — to a growing list of jurisdictions where EcoGraf's core processing technology is formally protected.

The development reinforces EcoGraf's strategy to establish itself as a credible, non-Chinese supplier of high purity graphite and battery anode materials at a time when global demand for diversified critical mineral supply chains is accelerating.

What Does the India Patent Cover?

The newly granted India patent protects EcoGraf's HFfree® purification technology across three key application areas:

• Battery anode material manufacturing — the process of converting spherical graphite into high performance, battery-grade anode material (99.95%C purity)
• High purity graphite product manufacturing — covering broader industrial and advanced manufacturing uses
• Recycling of lithium-ion battery anodes — enabling EcoGraf's technology to be applied to end-of-life battery materials, supporting circular economy outcomes

These applications collectively address the full value chain of graphite processing, from primary production through to battery recycling. Furthermore, this is a strategically important scope as battery manufacturers globally seek supply chain solutions that are both cost-effective and environmentally sound.

EcoGraf's Growing Global Patent Portfolio

The India grant is not an isolated event. EcoGraf has been methodically building patent protection across its key target markets, and the latest grant adds meaningful geographic coverage to an already substantive portfolio.

The table below summarises the current status of EcoGraf's patent applications across both patent families:

Granted and accepted patents now span Australia, USA, India, South Africa, Tanzania, Mozambique and Namibia, with further jurisdictions including Europe, Malaysia, South Korea, Vietnam and Canada at various stages of examination or filing.

The company has also recently submitted a third patent application, reflecting ongoing technology development and EcoGraf's intent to extend and deepen its IP protections as its process technology continues to evolve.

Understanding Patent Protection in Battery Materials

For investors unfamiliar with the role of patents in mining and materials companies, it is worth understanding why IP protection is particularly consequential for EcoGraf.

Unlike conventional mining companies whose competitive advantage rests primarily on the quality and scale of a mineral resource, EcoGraf's business model is built around a proprietary processing technology — HFfree® purification — that differentiates its products from those of competitors. This technology allows EcoGraf to produce 99.95%C high purity graphite without the use of hydrofluoric acid (HF), which is the standard but highly toxic and environmentally hazardous reagent used across the industry, including by Chinese producers.

What Does Patent Protection Mean for Business Operations?

A patent grants the holder the exclusive right to commercially use, licence, or enforce the technology in the jurisdiction where the patent is granted — for the duration of the patent term. This means:

1. Competitors cannot replicate or use the HFfree® process in India without EcoGraf's permission
2. EcoGraf can pursue licensing arrangements with local manufacturers, creating additional revenue streams
3. The protected technology supports EcoGraf's positioning as a supplier of environmentally superior battery anode materials to customers in regulated markets who face growing scrutiny over supply chain sustainability

Key Technical Terms Explained

• HFfree®: EcoGraf's proprietary purification process that avoids the use of hydrofluoric acid, delivering environmental and cost advantages over conventional graphite purification methods
• Battery Anode Material: The graphite-based component inside a lithium-ion battery that stores and releases lithium ions during charging and discharging
• Spherical Graphite (SpG): Natural flake graphite that has been mechanically shaped into a spherical form, the precursor material used in battery anodes
• Patent Family: A group of related patent applications filed across multiple countries to protect the same underlying invention
• Vertically Integrated: A business model where a company controls multiple stages of its value chain — in EcoGraf's case, from mining in Tanzania through to purification and potential recycling

The Strategic Context: Ex-China Supply Chain Development

EcoGraf has drawn attention to a significant and accelerating macro backdrop: recent Chinese restrictions on dual-use materials have intensified global efforts to build diversified and resilient critical raw material supply chains outside China.

China currently dominates the graphite processing and battery anode supply chain, accounting for the overwhelming majority of global spherical graphite and purified graphite production. Consequently, as battery manufacturers in Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific seek to reduce their dependence on Chinese supply — whether for geopolitical, regulatory or commercial reasons — the need for credible alternative suppliers has become more urgent.

EcoGraf's Integrated Business Model

EcoGraf's strategy is designed precisely to address this gap. The company is planning to establish EcoGraf HFfree® purification facilities in key global battery markets, enabling localised supply outside China. Its vertically integrated model is anchored by the Epanko Graphite Project in Tanzania.

Key elements of that integrated model include:

• Epanko Graphite Mine, Tanzania — long-term scalable source of natural flake graphite feedstock
• Mechanical Shaping Facility, Tanzania — to process flake graphite concentrate into spherical graphite (SpG)
• EcoGraf HFfree® Purification Facilities — to be located in close proximity to EV, battery and anode manufacturers in Asia, Europe and North America
• Battery Recycling Capability — the HFfree® process has been successfully applied to recycle battery anode material, supporting circular supply chain models

Over US$30 million has been invested to date in developing these assets and capabilities.

Investment Case Analysis

The EcoGraf HFfree technology patent in India represents more than an administrative milestone. Indeed, several factors converge to make this development highly relevant for investors.

India as a Battery Market

India is actively building out its domestic EV and battery manufacturing sector. Securing patent protection in India positions EcoGraf to participate in that growth — whether through direct supply, technology licensing, or partnerships with local manufacturers.

IP as a Commercial Moat

EcoGraf's HFfree® technology is the central differentiator of its entire business. Patent protection in granted jurisdictions prevents replication of that technology by competitors and underpins EcoGraf's ability to negotiate supply and licensing arrangements from a position of strength.

Portfolio Breadth Signals Maturity

With patents now granted or accepted across seven jurisdictions and under examination in three more, EcoGraf's IP portfolio reflects a company with a globally applicable, commercially defensible technology — not simply a single-market innovation.

Alignment with Structural Supply Chain Shifts

The demand for ex-China battery anode material supply is a structural, policy-driven trend across major economies. EcoGraf's purification technology, supply chain model and geographic IP coverage are aligned with that demand shift, providing a commercial rationale that extends beyond any single market.

Environmental Advantage

As regulatory and corporate sustainability requirements tighten for battery supply chains — particularly in the EU and North America — EcoGraf's HF-free process offers a meaningful compliance and marketing advantage over conventional Chinese production methods.

Near-Term Catalysts and Strategic Priorities

With patent protection now secured across a growing number of jurisdictions and a third patent application recently submitted, the company's near-term focus centres on advancing its commercial strategy in parallel with IP consolidation. Key areas to monitor include:

• Resolution of patent examinations in Europe, Malaysia and South Korea — three strategically critical markets for battery manufacturing
• Progression of the Canada filing under Patent Family 2
• Advancement of purification facility planning in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, as referenced in the company's August 2025 announcement
• Continued development of the Epanko Graphite Project and Mechanical Shaping Facility in Tanzania
• Third patent application — details of the new application's scope are expected to provide further insight into the evolution of EcoGraf's technology

Why Patent Protection Matters in Battery Materials

The battery anode materials sector differs significantly from traditional mining operations. Where conventional resource companies compete primarily on deposit quality, scale and operating costs, technology-focused materials companies like EcoGraf compete on process innovation and environmental performance.

The environmental advantage is particularly relevant as global battery manufacturers face increasing pressure to demonstrate supply chain sustainability. EcoGraf's HFfree® technology addresses two critical challenges:

1. Environmental Impact: Eliminating hydrofluoric acid from the purification process reduces toxic waste and improves workplace safety
2. Regulatory Compliance: Meeting stricter environmental standards in developed markets where battery manufacturing is growing

For EcoGraf, patent protection transforms this technological advantage into a legally defensible competitive position. This is especially important as the company moves from development to commercial deployment of its processing facilities.

Key Investment Considerations
EcoGraf has secured patent protection for its HFfree® technology across multiple major jurisdictions, positioning the company to participate in the structural shift toward ex-China battery anode supply chains. With over US$30 million invested in developing its vertically integrated business model and a growing patent portfolio protecting its core technology, EcoGraf aims to establish itself as a preferred supplier of sustainable, high purity battery anode materials to global manufacturers.

The EcoGraf HFfree technology patent in India adds another significant jurisdiction to the company's intellectual property coverage at a time when battery manufacturers are actively seeking alternatives to Chinese supply chains. Investors should, therefore, monitor the progression of patent examinations in Europe, Malaysia and South Korea, alongside developments in the company's facility planning and Tanzanian operations.

Want to Learn More About EcoGraf's Patented Technology and Investment Opportunity?

EcoGraf Limited (ASX: EGR) is building a vertically integrated, ex-China battery anode supply chain underpinned by its proprietary HFfree® purification technology — now patent-protected across multiple key global jurisdictions, including the USA, India, and Australia. With over US$30 million invested in developing its assets and capabilities, and a growing IP portfolio aligned with the structural shift away from Chinese graphite supply chains, EcoGraf represents a compelling proposition for investors seeking exposure to the critical minerals and battery materials sector. To explore the company's technology, projects, and commercial strategy in greater detail, visit www.ecograf.com.au.