Vatomina Project - flake graphite mining and processing, MADAGASCAR
The project has a 25 km2 permit area with mining permits issued for 40 years that are renewable. The first production plant and operation has been established with ramp up to 18,000tpa of production underway.
The company has carried out multiple activities for the development of the project:
Exploration & RESOURCE
- A third of the mineralised zones have been explored to date using in-house drill rigs and exploration team.
- Exploration activities include >3000m core drilling, >4800m auger drilling, pitting, trenching, mapping, surveys and exploration mining of 36 MT ore.
- Maiden JORC Resources (by SRK Consultants):
- Indicated – 3.2mt @ 4.3% GC
- Indicated – 15.2mt @ 4.7% GC
- Exploration target of between 8 to 10 million tonnes of flake graphite with an average grade of 3-4% TGC
- Resource upside potential on both lateral and vertical axis
- Staged exploration strategy, establishing enough resource for development plan
- The currently defined Mineral Resource Estimate under JORC (2012) implies total contained graphite of 852,000 tons
Key Developments
Project Infrastructure & ancillary facilities
- Internal roads about 20 km & bridges built
- Campsite for 20 management team powered by solar energy
- Engineering centre established, supporting plant construction
- Laboratory created for testing exploration samples as well as supporting production activities post-commissioning.
18000 TPA PLANT AND OPERATIONS RAMPING UP
- Earthwork equipment – Dump trucks, backhoe deployed
- Construction of the plant, including foundations, flooring, guard walls, equipment foundations etc completed
- Plant superstructure manufactured at the site
- Expansion of Pre-Concentrate Unit capacity underway
Team Building, Market development
- Engineers, Geoscientists and project top management working on the ground
- Land acquisitions completed, local community engaged with community welfare practices
- Marketing and business development continuously underway
