Name of the Project
Woxna graphite anode project.

Location
Gävleborg County, Sweden.

Project Owner/s
Leading Edge Minerals.

Project Description
A preliminary economic assessment (PEA) has indicated the potential viability of an operation producing battery-grade graphite anode material using an existing graphite mine and concentrator, with the addition of a value-add processing facility off site.

The project has measured and indicated resources of 10.77-million tonnes grading 7.75% carbon. Inferred resources are estimated at 2.51-million tonnes grading 8.16%.

Conventional openpit drill-and-blast, combined with trucks and shovel mining methods have been selected to be operated by a local specialist mining contractor, to maximise the operational efficiency, provide flexibility, and potentially lower investment risk to the project.

The proposed process route in the PEA uses a thermal purification process, which combined with access to low-cost hydropower, offers a low carbon footprint for the project.

The project will also feature an improved waste management process for tailings, further improving the sustainability ambitions of the project.

The project has a life-of-mine (LoM) of 15 years and will produce about 258 000 t of contained graphite in concentrate.

LoM average plant feed is expected at 159 967 t/y; coated spherical purified graphite at 7 435 t/y and micronised graphite product at 8 421 t/y.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The project has a pretax net present value, at an 8% discount rate, of $317-million and an internal rate of return of 42.9%, with a payback of 2.24 years.

Capital Expenditure
Initial capital expenditure is estimated at $121-million.

Planned Start/End Date
Not stated.

Latest Developments
None stated.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Zenito (preliminary economic assessment).

Contact Details for Project Information
Leading Edge Minerals, tel +1604245 5932 or email info@leadingedgematerials.com.