Blencowe Resources Plc (LSE: BRES), the natural resources company advancing the Orom-Cross graphite project in Uganda is pleased to announce continued international testing of graphite from its Orom-Cross project in Uganda has confirmed superior performance across multiple battery technologies.

Highlights:

·    Latest testing by Apollo Energy Systems Inc. (“Apollo”) shows Orom-Cross graphite delivers ~12% enhanced performance in lead-acid battery cells.

·    Best performing materials are purified by-products from the SPG process opening new high-value outlet for secondary graphite streams.

·    The lead-acid battery market consumes over 50,000 tonnes of graphite annually across the U.S., Europe and Australia (entirely outside China’s supply chain).

·    These results complement earlier testing by American Energy Technologies (“AETC”) under the EU-funded SAFELOOP programme, where Orom-Cross graphite achieved 99.98 wt%C purity and was used to produce EV anode materials containing over 68% natural graphite, delivering exceptional performance consistency.

·    Ongoing testing programmes (including those undertaken for certain U.S. agencies through technical partners) continue to highlight Orom-Cross as a source of premium, high-performance graphite.

Testing by Apollo, a U.S. leader in advanced lead-acid battery innovation, demonstrated that Orom-Cross graphite enhances discharge capacity by approximately 12% versus peer materials. When added as a 2 wt.% component in the negative electrode Orom-Cross graphite improved:

·    Energy capacity

·    Charge acceptance

·    Resistance to sulfation

·    Overall cycle life

These outcomes highlight the opportunity to expand into the large, established lead-acid battery market, used in vehicles, grid storage and backup systems globally. Importantly, the materials tested are by-products from the SPG (Spheronised Purified Graphite) process, showing that even secondary streams from Orom-Cross deliver commercial-grade, high-performance value.

This follows outstanding earlier results from AETC in Chicago, which conducted pilot-scale purification and anode testing using Orom-Cross graphite within the SAFELOOP programme. The material was purified to 99.98 wt%C, achieving battery-grade purity suitable for electric vehicle applications. Anode materials containing over 68% natural Orom-Cross graphite, replacing predominantly synthetic graphite inputs used in most EV batteries, delivered performance levels that exceeded expectations, confirming Orom-Cross graphite’s exceptional electrochemical characteristics.

Combined, these independent studies by leading graphite technical experts continue to demonstrate Orom-Cross’s rare combination of high purity, superior conductivity, and multi-market adaptability, which are all qualities sought by energy storage and defence-related agencies worldwide.

Executive Chairman Cameron Pearce commented:

“We have extensive testing underway in multiple locations worldwide, using different partners with deep technical expertise in their respective fields.  This latest programme with Apollo Energy has opened a potential new market opportunity for Orom-Cross graphite in the large, well-established lead-acid battery sector.

These latest results further confirm what sets Orom-Cross apart and specifically that our graphite material substantially enhances performance delivering higher capacity, greater charge acceptance and longer battery life. This means Orom-Cross graphite can add real value in a market that already consumes tens of thousands of tonnes of graphite each year and operates outside the Chinese supply chain.

These findings build on earlier work by American Energy Technologies under the SAFELOOP programme, where Orom-Cross achieved 99.98 wt%C purity and recorded the highest performance score ever seen by AETC for a natural graphite project. Together, they reinforce Orom-Cross as a globally competitive, next-generation graphite source suited to multiple battery technologies.

As we move towards completion of our Definitive Feasibility Study these ongoing results are helping shape our marketing strategy and early offtake discussions, particularly in higher value western markets. They continue to validate the quality of our product and demonstrate how Orom-Cross can meet a wide range of high-value, high-performance graphite demand globally.”

Appendix – Test Results Summary

Figure 1. Last Seven Cycles Comparison – Blencowe vs Control (HE-1511)

The chart below illustrates the clear and consistent performance advantage of Orom-Cross graphite over the control material across the final seven discharge cycles, confirming stronger energy retention and reduced performance degradation over time.

Discharge Capacity Comparison – Average 12.6% Improvement