Gratomic Inc. (TSX-V:GRAT, OTCQX:CBULF) announced progress on several fronts as the company advances its operational and strategic initiatives, including preparations to resume mining activities at its Aukam graphite project in Namibia.
In recent months, Gratomic has concentrated on securing off-take agreements, renewing mining licenses, streamlining corporate structuring, and advancing mine start-up planning.
On August 23, staff were mobilized to the Aukam site for the first time this year to begin preparations for development work.
The on-site team is led by senior geologist and acting mine manager Raimund Rental, alongside Namibian partner and government liaison Helao Shivolo. Employees are being housed in company-constructed accommodations at the site.
CEO Manie Silver and chairman Arno Brand have been tasked with overseeing plant maintenance, facility care, and the evaluation of critical components needed to restart operations.
Mining is scheduled to resume with the extraction of 7,000 tons of material, which will be added to the existing 3,000-ton stockpile.
According to the company, this will bring the ROM pad to capacity and provide sufficient feedstock to support processing for the next 12 months.
Exploration efforts are also progressing. Rental and the geological team are finalizing plans for a 10,000-meter drilling program expected to begin in early 2026.
The work will build on results from the company’s 2022–2023 drilling campaigns and is intended to provide infill data for a future NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Aukam project.
Gratomic said it is preparing for first-phase production of 7,600 tons of finished product, supported by the installation of final components designed to achieve graphite purity of 97% Cg. Installation work is set to begin in late September.
The company has also updated its financial reporting and disposed of non-core assets as part of its ongoing strategy.
“The company is now in better shape than it has been in several years,” Brand said in a statement.
Looking ahead, Gratomic is working toward the completion of a Feasibility Study on the Aukam Property, which will provide recommendations for scaling up the processing plant to a commercial facility capable of producing targeted concentrate grades and output.