Blencowe Resources PLC (LSE:BRES) said pilot tests on graphite bulk samples from its Orom-Cross project in Uganda have so far confirmed a high-grade low-impurity concentrate can be produced.
Around 100t of graphite from Orom-Cross was shipped to China for pilot processing.
In a statement, Blencowe said it recently visited the plant with representatives of the Ugandan government to see the process, which is being carried out by Chines firm Jilin New Technology.
Blencowe added that it made the trip to confirm directly with the pilot plant operators the expected improvements in both overall recovery and concentrate grades following a refinement of the Pre-Feasibility Study processing methodology by Wuhan University specialists.
Several meetings were also held with leading Chinese graphite offtake firms seeking both large flake and fines concentrates, it said, with approaches also about downstream processing opportunities.
The company expects the bulk sample test program to be completed by the end of August.