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Graphite projects gaining ground

REPUTATIONAL STRENGTH Battery Limits's work to accelerate the development of Chilalo in Tanzania is in line with its rapidly growing reputation in graphite and other energy-related commodities

REPUTATIONAL STRENGTH Battery Limits's work to accelerate the development of Chilalo in Tanzania is in line with its rapidly growing reputation in graphite and other energy-related commodities

7th October 2016

  

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Independent, confirmatory testwork with respect to the marketability of Chilalo has been completed at Australian resources company Graphex Mining’s Chilalo graphite project in south-east Tanzania, for which Australian mining project development consultant Battery Limits completed the prefeasibility study (PFS).

The testwork conducted on a 500 kg sample of Chilalo ore included flotation to confirm the coarse flake size distribution for Chilalo graphite and expandability testwork to confirm the excellent expansion rates achieved previously.

“Our own testwork has demonstrated that Chilalo can produce a high-quality product with a substantial percentage of coarse flake material and exceptional expandability. “It is pleasing to have this confirmed,” states Graphex MD Phil Hoskins.

The results of the PFS, announced on November 23, 2015, confirm Chilalo as a market-leading graphite project that, on all objective measures, compares favourably with other graphite projects, states Graphex, created by the spin-off of dual-listed iron-ore mining, base and precious metals exploration company IMX Resources’ Chilalo graphite project.

“The PFS found that Chilalo is technically sound with high margins, low capital intensity and attractive returns.”

Battery Limits notes that its work with IMX to accelerate the development of Chilalo is in line with its rapidly growing reputation in graphite and other energy-related commodities.

Downstream technologies are critical for a successful graphite operation, says Battery Limits, which has worked with Australia-based IMX to investigate and evaluate a range of available options.

In August, Graphex announced that it had recommitted to its agreements with offtake partners in Tanzania for the Chilalo graphite project, providing an opportunity towards financing and development.

The Chilalo deposit was first explored in 2014 and the maiden resource declared in early 2015. Battery Limits prepared a concept study in early 2015 for the project, after which it was appointed in the same year to manage Chilalo’s PFS, including detailed engineering, infrastructure and cost estimating.

The mine has an estimated life of ten years, during which it is expected to produce an average 69 000 t/y of graphite concentrate.


Nachu Project

Battery Limits has also completed a PFS for near-term graphite producer Magnis Resources, which is developing the Nachu graphite project, in Tanzania.

On March 31, Magnis released the results of Nachu’s bankable feasibility study (BFS), which highlights the exceptional economic returns and low technical risk of Nachu. These characteristics are driven by the high-quality, size, purity and crystal structure of the contained graphite flake in the Nachu deposit, states Magnis.

“The BFS highlights the outstanding projected financial returns from Nachu and demonstrates its low level of technical risk,” adds the company.

All the necessary infrastructure for Nachu has been identified, with any required construction incorporated in the BFS planning, including roads, water and grid power sourcing.

Battery Limits completed the PFS in December 2014 on schedule and within budget, five months after the main drilling campaign started and four months after the study was initiated, it says.

“The Nachu project is one of the first contemporary graphite projects in Africa to reach this stage of development.”

Battery Limits notes that it was selected ahead of other “leading Australian and South African engineering companies”, owing to its reputation, bankability and flexibility in responding to client requirements.

In the tough environment of mining, miners and project developers require the best advice from the best people; they need experience and knowledge that they can trust, says Battery Limits.

The Nachu graphite project is located within the greater Mozambique metamorphic belt. Mineralisation at the project site is hosted within layers of metasedimentary graphitic schists. The project hosts five deposits namely blocks B, D, F, FSL and J, with the bulk of the mineralisation located within about 150 m from the surface.

Nachu, covering an area of about 199 km², is located west of the coastal city of Lindi and about 200 km from the port city of Mtwara, in south-east Tanzania and is estimated to have a production life of roughly 40 years.

Edited by Tracy Hancock
Creamer Media Contributing Editor

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