Blencowe Resources PLC (LSE:BRES) said commercial-scale testing has started as part of its definitive feasibility study at the Orom-Cross graphite project in Uganda.
A 600-tonne bulk sample test is underway at the Jilin Huiyang facility in China.
Blencowe senior management is also meeting potential offtake partners this month following what it says was strong interest in the earlier test work samples delivered.
Samples of both 96% concentrate and 99.95% spheronised purified graphite (SPG) will be sent to offtakers after these new tests.
Cameron Pearce, executive chairman commented: "This latest 600-tonne bulk sample testing is a critical part of our DFS.
"We aim to demonstrate that end products maintain the same high quality and purity in commercial-scale processing that have already been achieved in all previous testing to date.
"The 100-tonne testing last year confirmed this quality maintains to scale and we are confident we can achieve similar results from this latest 600-tonne testing.
“Thereafter we will have sufficient quantity of 99.95% SPG to provide for testing with tier one offtakers for product qualification."