Battery metals development company NextSource expects to achieve nameplate capacity of 17 000 t/y at its Molo graphite mine by July, the Toronto-based miner said on Monday.
The mine, in southern Madagascar, achieved first production in June last year, and has since progressed through debottlenecking and optimisation activities to achieve the nameplate capacity.
During the ramp-up, NextSource identified and rectified underperforming equipment in the screening circuit, which the company notes, has led to delays in achieving nameplate capacity.
Installation of replacement equipment will be complete in April and ramp-up will continue until June.
As a result of the revised schedule, NextSource expects the first commercial shipment and sale of SuperFlake concentrate under offtake agreements to occur in June.
NextSource has produced SuperFlake concentrate with a carbon content of more than 95% and concentrate is being stockpiled at the mine and at a third-party warehouse facility for shipment as qualifying material for prospective customers.
To date, the company has completed the shipment of almost 60 t of qualifying material to its battery anode facility technology partner for testing and conversion into coated, spherionised, purified graphite.
NextSource is considering expanding the Molo mine up to a production capacity of 150 000 t/y of SuperFlake graphite concentrate.