Name of the Project
Orom-Cross graphite project.

Location
Uganda.

Project Owner/s
Blencowe Resources.

Project Description
Orom-Cross is a large, shallow openpit deposit with an estimated overall resource of between two- and three-billion tonnes of graphite. A total of 16.3-million tonnes have been drilled to Joint Ore Resource standard.

A preliminary economic assessment (PEA) envisages an openpit, owner-operated mining operation.

The plant will contain separate circuits that will, ultimately, deliver an average of 75 000 t/y, comprising four separate end-products – jumbo, large, medium and small flake-size concentrates.

Potential Job Creation
A workforce of about 45 will be on site at any time, some of whom will be a fly-in, fly-out contingent from international locations.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The project has a net present value, at an 8% discount rate, of $317-million and an internal rate of return of 49%, with a payback on capital of four years.

Capital Expenditure
The project has an initial capital cost of $80-million, inclusive of 15% contingency.

Planned Start/End Date
The company aims to produce its first graphite concentrates from a pilot plant by 2023, while full production from a main plant is expected from 2025.

Latest Developments
Blencowe Resources has increased its total resource by 50% to 24.5-million tonnes grading 6% total graphite content, which contains sufficient measured and indicated resources for the first 15 years of the life-of-mine at the Orom-Cross graphite project.

The company has increased indicated and measured resources by 340% to 13.2-million tonnes, providing a higher level of accuracy and confidence in the deposits to be mined.

It also completed a comprehensive infill drilling programme in the second half of 2021. The results have significantly increased the mineral resource potential and confirmed the robustness of the two higher-grade zones within the main Northern Syncline deposit on the project.

The measured, indicated and inferred resources start from the surface outcrop to at least a depth of 30 m, and the orebody remains open below, representing future exploration potential.

The company has said the quality of the mineralisation lends itself to low-cost production.

Blencowe initially targeted a mineral resource of 20-million tonnes from Phase 6 of its infill drilling programme, with ten-million tonnes being in the measured and/or indicated categories. However, this expectation has been exceeded and will contribute to a positive prefeasibility study once published in mid-2022.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Battery Limits (PFS).

Contact Details for Project Information
Blencowe Resources, tel +44 1624 681 250 or email info@blencoweresourcesplc.com.