Image: Black Rock Mining
BY GERARD MCARTNEY
BLACK Rock Mining has been granted two contiguous mineral licences to begin development of the Mahenge graphite mine.
Mahenge Resources, Black Rock’s 100 per cent owned Tanzanian subsidiary, announced it was granted the licences by the Tanzanian ministry of minerals on 26 February, which complemented the environmental permit awarded to the company on 5 September 2018.
The Mahenge project was expected to have a 32-year mine life, capable of delivering up to 250,000 tonnes per annum of 98.5 per cent graphite concentrate.
Black Rock delivered its scoping study in March 2016 and, in June 2016, produced the world’s first 99.1 per cent TGC purity by lab flotation.
In May 2018, the company produced a world-first 99 per cent purity from in its pilot plant.
Black Rock chief executive John de Vries said that the licences were a significant milestone not just for the progression of the project toward production, but also for the company’s social licence.
“Licencing gives all stakeholders comfort that Tanzania wants this project to be developed. Licences is the final step in allowing us to obtain financing to construct the mine,” Mr de Vries said.
Black Rock produced eight tonnes of concentrate from its 90 tonne pilot program that it sent to 24 international customers that would work with the product and validate the quality.
“We remain convinced this is the most compelling graphite development project globally,” Mr de Vries said.
“[It is] the only project capable of delivering a concentrate grade of over 99 per cent without the use of acid, the second largest graphite reserve supporting a 32-year mine life at 250,000 tonnes per annum with a study underway to increase this.”
“Our next steps are to close out ongoing financing discussions and to complete the detailed engineering to enable the commencement of construction.”
