Name of the Project
Chilalo graphite project.

Location
The Ruangwa district of the Lindi region of south-east Tanzania.

Project Owner/s
Evolution Energy Metals.

Project Description
The robust project will be based on a probable reserve of 9.2-million tonnes.

The definitive feasibility study (DFS) has estimated total low- and high-grade indicated and inferred mineral resources of 67.3-million tonnes grading 5.4% total graphitic carbon. The project envisages throughput of 500 000 t/y to produce 50 000 t/y of high-value graphite products over an 18-year mine life.

The Chilalo openpit mine is planned as a conventional truck-and-shovel operation, using 40 t to 50 t articulated trucks and matching excavators. Operations include drill-and-blast activities for the majority of the openpit mining. Contractor mining has been assumed for the life-of-mine.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The project has an after-tax net present value, at an 8% discount rate, of $323-million and an internal rate of return of 34%, with a payback of 3.6 years.

Capital Expenditure
Preproduction capital costs are estimated at $87.4-million.

Planned Start/End Date
The company is aiming for a final investment decision in the second quarter of 2020, which, if achieved, will result in Chilalo’s commissioning in the third quarter of 2021.

Latest Developments
Evolution Energy Minerals has awarded the front-end engineering design (FEED) contract for its Chilalo graphite project to CPC Engineering.

The FEED is expected to start immediately and is targeted for completion in September. It will incorporate a series of optimisations from the DFS to enhance the project economics and reduce the carbon footprint of the project.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
GR Engineering Services (process plant, engineering design, overall cost estimation and report compilation); BatteryLimits (metallurgy and flowsheet development); SGS Lakefield (metallurgy and flowsheet development); CSA Global (geology, mineral resource, mining and ore reserve); ATC Williams (tailings storage facility); AQ2 (hydrology and hydrogeology); Mine Waste Management (acid and metalliferous drainage); Graphite Market (independent expert consultants in China and the US); Azure Capital (financial modelling); and CPC Engineering (FEED).

Contact Details for Project Information
Evolution Energy Metals, tel +61 8 9200 3426 or email info@ev1minerals.com.au.