Vancouver-based Leading Edge Materials Corp. says now that its acquisition of Tasman Metals Inc. is complete, the company can focus on pursuing additional growth opportunities in the European energy generation, storage and conservation markets.

Leading Edge is a mining firm with a fully-permitted and production-ready flake graphite facility in Central Sweden. The company is optimizing specialty graphite products for the energy storage and thermal lining markets.

"With a new name and an expanded view, Leading Edge Materials has the opportunity to play a strong role in the sustainable supply of critical raw materials. With core assets in Scandinavia, a region well recognized for its investment and success in innovation, we are excited about this next step in the Company's growth,” said Blair Way, president and CEO at Leading Edge.

The experience and networks of the newly expanded Leading Edge Materials team in the rare earth element (REE) and graphite sectors provides insight into where the company can become a supplier of choice to these emerging high value markets. The strong market influence of Chinese suppliers, and the reliance on poor mining practice in third world countries is unsustainable, and is creating an opportunity for growth in the secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials from within Europe.

The European Commission and Europe's major companies are investing strongly into renewable energy generation, efficient energy storage, and the light-weighting and electrification of transport. Leading Edge Materials, with deposits of graphite, REEs, zirconium, hafnium and nepheline at its Norra Karr deposit in Sweden, is focused on the development of materials and products suitable for these markets. Furthermore, new investment opportunities that fit within the corporate strategy are currently being reviewed.