The US government will lend up to $US107 million ($145 million) to ASX-listed Syrah Resources under a conditional plan to secure battery-grade graphite for American car makers such as Tesla.

The proposed loan to AustralianSuper’s preferred battery minerals miner is the latest sign that governments are willing to pump billions of dollars into breaking China’s stranglehold on supply of the minerals needed for decarbonisation and defence products. China supplies about 85 per cent of the world’s battery-grade graphite.