Name of the Project
Maniry graphite project.

Location
Southern Madagascar.

Project Owner/s
Evion, formerly BlackEarth Minerals.

Project Description
The Maniry definitive feasibility study has confirmed a technically robust project that will generate compelling financial returns over a projected mine life of 21 years.

The project consists of two main deposits – Razafy and Razafy Northwest.

An initial 500 000 t/y process plant will be located about 500 m north of Razafy, to be expanded to one-million tonnes a year in Year 3, ready for milling one-million tonnes a year from Year 4.

The project will be completed in stages, with Stage 1 producing 39 000 t/y of concentrate and Stage about 256 400 t/y from Year 4.

Mining will be undertaken using conventional drill-and-blast openpit methods followed by load-and-haul.

Mining equipment will include a mining fleet comprising 60 t to 80 t excavators, while 30-t- to 40-t-capacity trucks will be suited for the scale of mining envisaged.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The project has an estimated pretax net present value, at an 8% ungeared discount rate, of $263-million and an internal rate of return of 33%, with an after-tax payback from first ore of 3.8 years.

Capital Expenditure
Stage 1 will cost about $79.2-million and Stage 2 $24.6-million.

Planned Start/End Date
Not stated.

Latest Developments
None stated.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
CPC Engineering (flowsheet).

Contact Details for Project Information
Evion, tel +61 8 6158 9916 or email info@eviongroup.com.