Name of the Project
Molo graphite project.

Location
Tulear region, south-western Madagascar.

Project Owner/s
Canadian battery materials development company NextSource Materials.

Project Description
The Molo project is a full feasibility study-stage project and ranks as one of the biggest-known and highest-quality flake graphite deposits in the world; it is the only project with SuperFlake graphite.

NextSource will use an all-modular build approach to build the mine.

Initial production is expected to be 17 000 t/y over the first two years of production, followed by mine expansion in Year 3.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
A $29.5-million strategic investment by Vision Blue is expected to fully fund the construction of the project.

Planned Start/End Date
Mine commissioning is targeted for April 2022.

Latest Developments
The construction of the Molo graphite project is on schedule and within budget.

The company’s engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contractor, Erudite Strategies, reports that the attrition and ball mills, crushers, flotation columns, screeners, feeders, mixing tanks, bagging and drying systems have been fabricated and are ready for assembly.

The equipment comprises the major components of the Molo mine processing plant and will shortly be received by NextSource’s engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) firm to start assembling the modules.

The EPC firm specialises in the design, engineering, construction and assembly of fully modular processing plants, which, according to NextSource, is why the Molo mine can have a very low mine capital cost, compared with that of competitors, and can reach the commissioning stage in 12 months from the start of construction.

NextSource personnel have been mobilised to Madagascar to start preparations for site works.

Plant equipment is on track to be delivered to site in the first quarter of 2022, with plant equipment module installation at site on schedule to start in the first half of 2022.

NextSource has said it does not require any more funding to reach commissioning, which is on schedule for the second quarter of 2022, after receiving $29.5-million from its strategic investor Vision Blue Resources in May.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Erudite Strategies (EPCM contractor).

Contact Details for Project Information
NextSource Materials, tel +1416364 4911 or executive VP corporate development Brent Nykoliation, email brent@nextsourcematerials.com.