Blencowe Resources has successfully tested graphite from its Orom-Cross project in Uganda in a hypersonic rocket programme, supporting the company’s strategy of pursuing higher-value aerospace and defence applications alongside battery markets.
The company said Orom-Cross graphite was used in an ablative rocket-nozzle insert and fin coatings, as well as in the lithium-ion battery powering the vehicle’s altimeter.
The test vehicle reached approximately Mach 5.5, with acceleration approaching 150G, according to Blencowe.
Orom-Cross Graphite Used Across Multiple Components
A 3.8 amp-hour battery used during the test contained natural graphite and up to 15% recycled graphite by weight, with no synthetic graphite included.
Blencowe said additional testing is planned, including an orbital programme in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The successful test does not constitute a commercial order or offtake agreement. However, it broadens the potential applications being evaluated for Orom-Cross natural flake graphite.
Company Seeks Higher-Value Graphite Markets
The global graphite market is heavily influenced by battery-anode demand, where producers face strong competition from Chinese suppliers of both natural and synthetic graphite.
Aerospace, defence and specialised industrial applications can potentially command higher margins, but entering these markets generally requires extensive technical qualification and customer approval.
Blencowe is therefore seeking to demonstrate that Orom-Cross material can meet demanding technical specifications beyond conventional battery applications.
The hypersonic test provides additional evidence for the company’s technical marketing strategy, although it does not yet demonstrate commercial demand.
Western Supply Chains Increase Graphite Focus
The strategic importance of natural graphite has grown as Western governments seek to reduce dependence on Chinese processing capacity.
Both Europe and the United States remain reliant on imported graphite and downstream processing for battery and specialist industrial applications, creating interest in alternative supply sources.
Orom-Cross is being developed as a potential source of natural flake graphite, but the project remains subject to financing, development and customer-qualification risks.
For investors, the critical question is whether successful technical testing can lead to binding customer agreements and higher realised prices.
Ultimately, the project’s value will depend less on individual test results and more on successful qualification programmes, offtake agreements and evidence that Orom-Cross graphite can enter premium markets at commercially meaningful scale.
