HEG Limited 's wholly-owned subsidiary, TACC Limited, part of the LNJ Bhilwara Group, has announced a significant partnership with Ceylon Graphene Technologies (CGT), a subsidiary of LOLC Holdings PLC, to accelerate the commercialization and large-scale adoption of graphene and its derivatives.

Collaboration Details

The partnership, formalized through a Technical Collaboration Agreement, aims to combine the strengths of both companies to drive innovation in graphene technology. Key aspects of the collaboration include:

• Joint efforts in engineering design, production scale-up, commissioning, and product validation
• Conducting feasibility studies and risk mitigation planning with a focus on commercial viability and environmental compliance
• Accelerating product trials, validation, and commercialization of graphene-based technologies through shared technical expertise and data

Expertise Exchange

CGT brings to the table a decade of expertise in graphene, technology scale-up, and application development. This knowledge will support TACC in building state-of-the-art graphene production capabilities. On the other hand, TACC contributes its deep-rooted understanding of graphite technology and carbon science, along with proprietary processes for graphene synthesis and expertise in application-based derivatives.

Potential Impact

The collaboration is expected to drive transformative advancements across multiple sectors, including:

• Construction
• Textiles
• Coatings
• Rubber
• Energy storage

This partnership positions India at the forefront of next-generation material science and aligns with the country's Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.

Ongoing Projects

TACC is already engaged in several collaborative projects showcasing the potential of graphene:

• Working with the National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCB) and the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) on graphene-based concrete solutions
• Partnering with Birla Cellulose (a division of Grasim Industries) and RSWM Limited to advance the use of graphene in fabric innovation

Company Backgrounds

TACC Limited is an innovation-driven venture of the LNJ Bhilwara Group, focusing on synthetic graphite and next-generation carbon materials. The company emphasizes sustainability and green technologies in its approach to material innovations.

Ceylon Graphene Technologies (CGT), based in Sri Lanka, is a global expert in graphene production. It leverages Sri Lanka's premium vein graphite, known for its unmatched purity, and brings over a decade of expertise in material science, scale-up, and commercialization.

This strategic partnership between TACC and CGT represents a significant step forward in the graphene industry, potentially unlocking new applications and advancements in material science across various sectors.

HEG Limited , a leading graphite electrode manufacturer, has released its financial results for the first quarter, showcasing resilience in the face of global steel market challenges.

Financial Highlights

HEG reported a revenue from operations of Rs 613.00 crores for the quarter. The company's profit after tax stood at Rs 72.00 crores, representing an 11% profit margin. EBITDA for the quarter was Rs 154.00 crores, with a robust EBITDA margin of 23%.

Market Conditions and Industry Outlook

The global steel industry faced headwinds during the first half of the year. According to the World Steel Association, global crude steel production declined by 1.9% year-on-year to 934.3 million tonnes. This downturn has led to weak demand for graphite electrodes, with sustained pressure on spot market prices.

China's steel output fell by 2.4%, but elevated export volumes continued to flood global markets, disrupting trade flows and exerting downward pressure on both steel and electrode prices. Steel production outside China declined by 1.2% in the first half, with several regions experiencing sluggish recovery due to weak demand and shifting trade dynamics.

Despite the overall global decline, India reported a robust 9.2% year-on-year increase in steel production for the first half, supported by steady infrastructure spending and strong momentum in the automotive sector.

Expansion Plans

HEG announced an expansion plan to increase its production capacity from 100,000 tons to 115,000 tons. This expansion requires a total capital expenditure of Rs 650.00 crores and is expected to be commissioned by the end of January 2028. The company cites anticipated demand from new electric arc furnaces globally, driven by decarbonization initiatives, as the rationale behind this expansion. It is estimated that these initiatives could contribute approximately 200,000 tonnes of additional graphite electrode demand by 2030.

Company Position and Outlook

Following its capacity expansion to 100,000 tons in November 2023, HEG has maintained its position as the third largest graphite electrode producer in the western world. The company continues to export approximately 65-70% of its production to about 35 countries worldwide, supplying a large portion of its production to the top 20 steel companies globally.

While short-term market conditions remain challenging, HEG's management views the long-term outlook for graphite electrodes as positive, supported by the structural transition to lower-emission steel production worldwide.

Conclusion

HEG Limited's Q1 results demonstrate the company's ability to navigate through a challenging global steel market. With its strategic expansion plans and strong market position, HEG appears well-positioned to capitalize on the anticipated growth in demand for graphite electrodes driven by global decarbonization efforts in the steel industry.