Titan Mining Secures US$15 Million Financing to Advance Kilbourne Graphite Project Under EXIM's 'Make More in America' Initiative
Titan Mining Secures US$15 Million Institutional Financing
Titan Mining has announced the closing of a significant US$15 million institutional financing, a move that substantially bolsters the company's efforts to develop its flagship Kilbourne Graphite project. The funding arrives as the United States focuses intensely on securing domestic supply chains for critical minerals essential for defense and high-tech manufacturing.
Rita Adiani, President & CEO of Titan Mining, emphasized the strategic importance of the capital injection.
“This financing puts Titan in a strong position to move Kilbourne forward with clarity and momentum,” Adiani stated.The successful closing of the financing provides the necessary resources to transition the project from feasibility studies toward potential development.
EXIM Bank Backs Domestic Graphite Production
The financing news follows a major regulatory milestone for Titan Mining. The company secured the first domestic feasibility support issued under the U.S. Export-Import Bank’s (EXIM) Make More in America (MMIA) program. This support highlights the strategic value of the Kilbourne Graphite project to national economic and security interests.
The MMIA program is designed to encourage domestic manufacturing and critical mineral processing, reducing reliance on foreign sources. Graphite is classified as a critical mineral due to its indispensable role in electric vehicle batteries, aerospace components, and various industrial applications.
Strategic Importance of Critical Minerals
The support from EXIM aligns with broader governmental efforts, including those by the US Development Finance Agency (DFC), to expand financing for critical minerals—including graphite—in allied high-income countries like Canada and Australia. While Titan's project is domestic, the overall policy environment signals a strong commitment to securing these materials.
According to Conor Coleman, the DFC’s head of investments and chief of staff, the agency plans to accelerate its focus on mid-stream processing projects for critical minerals in the new year. This strategic shift underscores the growing urgency to build resilient domestic and allied supply chains, which could significantly benefit companies like Titan Mining.
- Graphite's Role: Essential for lithium-ion batteries, which power electric vehicles and energy storage systems.
- National Security Context: Minerals like antimony, often found alongside graphite, are crucial for national defense applications, further emphasizing the strategic value of domestic sources.
- Policy Alignment: The EXIM MMIA financing directly supports the federal government's push to onshore critical mineral processing and production.
Market and Sector Implications
The successful financing and EXIM backing signal increased institutional confidence in Titan Mining's ability to execute the Kilbourne project. For the critical minerals sector, this transaction serves as a precedent, demonstrating that domestic projects can access substantial institutional capital combined with government-backed financial instruments like the MMIA program.
The focus on feasibility financing suggests that the next phase for Titan Mining will involve detailed engineering and economic assessments necessary before a final investment decision (FID). The momentum generated by the US$15 million financing is expected to accelerate these pre-development activities, potentially shortening the timeline for bringing the Kilbourne Graphite resource online.
