Name of the Project
Oakover manganese project.

Location
East of Newman, in Western Australia.

Project Owner/s
Manganese developer Firebird Metals.
 
Project Description
An updated dense-media separation (DMS) manganese concentrate scoping study has confirmed the project as a long-life, tier-one manganese operation.

The study considers two scenarios.

The first scenario proposes the processing of four-million tonnes a year. 

The second scenario proposes staging capital expenditure and processing 1.5-million tonnes a year for the first three years of production, then ramping up to four-million tonnes a year of manganese concentrate. Processing includes crushing, scrubbing and DMS.

Firebird has chosen to progress with Scenario 1, which will result in full-scale production starting from Year 1.

The operation will have a mine life of 18 years, processing four-million tonnes a year for 1.2-million tonnes grading between 30% and 32% manganese concentrate a year.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The project has a net present value, at an 8% discount rate, of about A$741-million and an internal rate of return of 73.1%, with a payback of about 1.3 years.

Capital Expenditure
A$123-million.

Planned Start/End Date
Not stated.

Latest Developments
Firebird Metals has been granted mining lease 52/1086 for its Oakover manganese project.

The lease is conditional on receiving approval from the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety for a mining proposal.

The company’s long-term strategy is to grow into low-cost manganese-based cathode material business, leveraging its unique processes and technology, and its own mineral resources. The project boasts a mineral resource estimate of 176.7-million tonnes at 9.9% manganese, with 105.8-million tonnes at 10.1% manganese in an indicated category.

Firebird aims to secure a natural cost advantage in lithium/manganese/iron/phosphate cathode production, particularly by integrating manganese sulphate (MnSO4) from its proposed production plant, in China.

The proposed plant in the Jinshi High-Tech Industrial Park is the cornerstone of Firebird’s strategy to be a low-cost producer of battery-grade cathode raw materials. All critical permits have been obtained, and with a final investment decision, the plant can be built in less than 12 months.

The proposed plant will have a production capacity of 72 500 t of MnSO4-equivalent.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
CSA Global and Earth and Sound/Dr Mathew Cobb (mineral resource estimate); CSA Global (conceptual study); SBC Metallurgy (processing); Mincore (engineering); Galetech Energy Services (energy); Increva (infrastructure); Wyntak (road infrastructure, and load and road haulage); and FRB Management Assumption (ocean freight).

Contact Details for Project Information
Firebird Metals, tel +61 8 6245 9818 or email admin@firebirdmetals.com.au.