PERTH (miningweekly.com) – ASX-listed Triton Minerals has flagged a 50% to 70% production capacity increase from its commercial pilot plant (CPP) at the Ancuabe graphite project, in Mozambique.
The company on Tuesday said that a revised desktop study of the CPP now envisaged a 250 000 t/y plant capable of producing between 15 000 t/y and 17 000 t/y of graphite concentrate, at no increase to capital costs.
This was up from the previous production estimate of 10 000 t/y for the plant.
The initial capital expenditure estimate of between $32-million and $52-million remains unchanged, which is significantly less than the $99-million estimate for the 60 000 t/y plant considered in the definitive feasibility study (DFS).
“These results from the refined desktop study on the proposed CPP are overwhelmingly positive, a material increase in expected production of 50% to 70%, to 15 000 t/y to 17 000 t/y of graphite concentrate for no additional capital expenditure than previously envisaged,” said Triton executive director Andrew Frazer.
“We are already speaking to potential offtake partners for this additional potential production, in addition to the significant 10 000 t/y binding offtake agreement executed with YXGC.
“Triton is aiming to have the strategic review and desktop study completed early in the first quarter of 2022. This result is expected to positively impact discussions with Western debt providers for the debt portion of the CPP financing, which we will commence in the first quarter of 2022. We are then aiming to finalise a DFS for the CPP, to enable a final investment decision by the second quarter of 2022. It is Triton’s goal to have the CPP into production within 18 months or July 2023 at the latest,” said Frazer.