Giyani Metals Corp (TSX-V:EMM, OTC:CATPF) has provided an update on the commissioning of its Demonstration Plant (Demo Plant) in Johannesburg, South Africa, which is part of its K.Hill battery-grade manganese project in Botswana.
The plant is nearing the completion of commissioning, with first production of high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate (HPMSM) anticipated in early Q1 2025, the company said in a statement on Friday.
The commissioning process was impacted by a power outage on December 11 caused by vandalism and copper cable theft at an Eskom substation.
This outage disrupted the water supply to the Demo Plant from December 12 to December 17, which in turn hindered operations reliant on water, such as the boiler needed to generate steam.
The disruption delayed the C4 hot commissioning of crystallizers. After the water supply was restored on December 17, a 24-hour recovery procedure was implemented to flush and clean the crystallizers. Progress was further delayed by slower-than-expected commissioning of the plant's control system.
Utilities have now been fully restored, the company highlighted, and the plant has resumed hot commissioning. The first product samples from the Demo Plant are expected to be provided to potential offtakers for qualification trials early in Q1 2025.
An on-site independent laboratory operated by Quality Lab Services (QLS) is nearly fully operational, with key instruments such as ICP-OES and XRF already in active use, it added.
The laboratory’s setup will allow for efficient metal accounting and analysis, providing critical support for both the Demo Plant and the future Commercial Plant. Only the calcination furnaces remain to be completed.
Concurrent metallurgical test work is being conducted to optimize the process flowsheet, focusing on reducing reagent use, improving operating costs, and minimizing the carbon footprint of future production.
“Whilst the disruption from power and water outage has now been resolved, the ongoing learnings will be leveraged for the construction of the main plant in Botswana; fine-tuning the process now will have demonstrable operational and cost benefits when we reach construction of the main Commercial Plant, and puts us on firmer footing for a successful and smooth ramp-up,” Giyani CEO Charles FitzRoy said in a statement.
“These adjustments further endorse the strategic decision made to construct a Demo Plant at a 1:10 scale to the planned Commercial Facility, as this significantly de-risks the final project.”
FitzRoy emphasized the importance of the Demo Plant in the company’s strategy to deliver high-purity battery-grade manganese for electric vehicles.
“This production capacity establishes a strong foundation for Giyani to engage with potential offtake partners, as the continuous process flow of the Demo Plant will allow the team to target steady-state operations over extended periods, consequently proving Giyani’s ability to produce consistent battery-grade manganese and satisfy offtake requirements,” he said.
“This continuous operation at pre-commercial scale also provides critical information for understanding how the Commercial Plant will respond, further de-risking the project.”