PERTH (miningweekly.com) – A resource upgrade at ASX-listed Kibaran Resources' Merelani East deposit, in Tanzania, has paved the way for the company to start a prefeasibility study on its second project.
Kibaran, which also owns the Epanko graphite mine, in Tanzania, on Tuesday announced that 43% of the mineral resource estimate at Merelani East had increased to a higher Joint Ore Reserves Committee (Jorc) classification of indicated resource.
The project was now estimated to host 17.7-million tonnes, grading 6.5% graphite, for 1.14-million tonnes of contained graphite, of which some 500 000 t was classified as indicated and 650 000 t as inferred.
Kibaran said on Tuesday that the terms of reference for the prefeasibility study at the Merelani East deposit would evaluate replicating the Epanko plant and expansion plans, with offtake and sales interest received for Merelani graphite supporting the company’s view that the graphite end-market was seeking diversity in supply.
The company said that significant growth in demand was expected over the next five to ten years, which would support Kibran’s strategy of preparing a second graphite operation ready for development.