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PERTH (miningweekly.com) – A scoping study into ASX-listed Talga Resources’ Vittangi graphite project, in Sweden, has indicated that the project could deliver about 46 000 t/y of graphite and 1 000 t/y of graphene over a 20-year mine life.
The project would mine at a rate of about 250 000 t/y.
The scoping study estimated that the project would require a capital investment of some A$29-million, with operating expenditure estimated at A$83.80/t.
A net present value of more than A$490-million has been attached to the project, based on the current Joint Ore Reserves Committee-compliant resource of 7.6-million tonnes, grading 24.4% graphite, with the pay-back period estimated at 1.4 years.
“The outcome of the study strongly supports our ambitions to become a low-cost producer of graphite and graphene. Talga has been conservative to ensure that project economics are robust enough to support a range of market circumstances and our low capex [capital expenditure] and operating costs starting position clearly supports margin insulation,” said Talga MD Mark Thompson.
He noted that as a combined graphite and graphene operation, the Vittangi project showed high economic performance, but was also viable as a standalone graphite project.
Thompson said that the study results provided Talga with the confidence and a business case to advance the project towards trial mining, pilot plant design and construction.