Graphite exploration and development stage company Next Graphite has received the conditional renewal of its exclusive prospecting licence for its Aukam property, in southern Namibia.

“We are pleased that the renewal process has reached this point and look forward to working with the Namibian government to accommodate its objectives to complete the process and start to increase its inward investment into Namibia. We look forward to working with our joint venture partner [TSX-V-listed Canada-based junior exploration company CKR Carbon] to commercialise our above-ground assets and the high-grade graphite reported in our existing adits,” Next Graphite president and CEO Cliff Bream said in a statement made in February.

The licence covers Next Graphite’s 96 000 acre Aukam property, including three existing adits and on-site heaps of graphite-bearing rock. The company previously reported that 95% of heap samples achieved between 32% and 69% graphite content with the highest sample recorded at 82%.

The notice of the Namibian Ministry of Mines and Energy’s preparedness to grant approval for the renewal of prospecting licence 3895 was delivered to Next Graphite’s Namibian subsidiary Gazania Investments, which submitted the initial renewal application.

Next Graphite management and CKR Carbon are confident that the conditions outlined in the notice of the licence renewal will be met within the 60-day period allowed for by the Ministry.

Accessibility

Access to the property farm gate is through a 52.6 km graded gravel road from the main tar road (B4 highway). This road is accessible to conventional cars. From the farm gate to the foot of the range that hosts the deposit (another 1 km) is accessible by four-wheel drive gravel track, but essentially all-weather. The mine site workings are on a rugged slope and there is limited access by a bulldozed road. Access to the upper adits and openpit is by foot.

Climate

The Aukam graphite deposit is located in an area of southern Namibia with both summer and winter rainfall. In the austral summer, daytime temperatures peak in the mid 40 °C, while in winter temperatures can go as low as freezing. Rainfall in winter is generally a light drizzle with occasional harder rainfall and sometimes flurries. In summer, occasional short thunderstorms are experienced, but can be of very high intensity. All of the streams within the area are ephemeral and can flow very strongly after summer rainfall. Average annual rainfall is between 50 mm and 150 mm.

Infrastructure

The infrastructure in the area is good with access to the site possible throughout the year, says North River. The Aukam graphite deposit is relatively close to a main tar road and well graded so the only construction required would be a access raoad to site of about 2 km long. There is a national power grid that passes 2 km from the property. A link would likely be required. Water is available in large amounts from underground aquifers (there is an old pump station at the foot of the mountain which was used previously to supply operations with water). The nearest rail link is located next to the main highway (some 70 km from site). Suitable areas for tailings dams and flotation plants are available dependent on eventual plant design. The nearest town of Aus is some 87 km away by road.