In our latest episode, we sat down with Vikram Handa, Managing Director of Epsilon Advanced Materials to explore how one of India’s most dynamic and vertically integrated graphite and battery materials companies is scaling up operations beyond China - with end-to-end control across its supply chain, in-house coke production, and major projects underway in the United States, Finland, and India.

We cover a wide range of critical topics, from securing $420 million in a LOI from the U.S. EXIM Bank to navigating permitting, engineering, and customer qualification for synthetic graphite production outside China. Vikram shares detailed insights into Epsilon’s plans to commission a 30,000 tonne plant in North Carolina by 2027, backed by integrated supply and advanced capabilities across both synthetic and natural graphite.

We dive into the realities of building a graphite supply chain ex-China, from costs and timelines to customer expectations and regulatory headwinds. With only a handful of permitted anode material projects in the U.S., Epsilon is uniquely positioned as a technology-forward, commercially-ready player that has already proven its materials at ton-scale in commercial batteries.

We discuss:

• The significance of the U.S. EXIM Bank’s Letter of Interest and how it underpins Epsilon’s U.S. project financing
• Epsilon’s global build-out: why Finland was selected for its European graphite facility, and how permitting differs across regions
• Why customer qualification is the true bottleneck - and why Epsilon’s head start matters
• The cost challenge: Can the West compete with China on synthetic graphite pricing?
• Strategic partnerships, technology licensing, and the role of China
• Why graphite isn’t going away, and how synthetic, natural and silicon, will coexist in the battery landscape
• U.S. government policy signals: from 45X and 30D tax credits to MP Materials' recent $400M support package
• What customers need to understand about timing

As the graphite market braces for a preliminary antidumping ruling in the U.S., this conversation with Vikram Handa offers a strong message of opportunity: those who act now to derisk supply chains and commit to qualified suppliers will shape the next era of battery manufacturing.This video was produced in partnership with Epsilon Carbon and is marked as sponsored content.

Published 16 July 2025

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