BlackEarth Minerals NL has secured a key permit to export its Maniry project’s graphite concentrate from a port in Southern Madagascar.
The ASX-lister can initially export as much as 30,000 tonnes of resource from its flagship asset, with the option to expand this figure over time to accommodate a stage two expansion.
Southern Madagascar’s Port d’Ehoala SA granted the exporting permit and will provide BlackEarth with access to port infrastructure and ship loading services.
BlackEarth’s developing Maniry operations lie around 250 kilometres from the port, with infrastructure already in place to help transport graphite concentrate from its cornerstone project.
“A significant milestone”
BlackEarth Minerals managing director Tom Revy said: “This is a really important achievement for the BlackEarth team and is a significant milestone in the development of our Maniry Mine operations in the rapidly growing graphite region of Southern Madagasar.
“Having access to world-class infrastructure is critical to any mine operation, in any part of the world, and this right now allows us to move forward with certainty, and also provides yet another strategic advantage to our planned Maniry large flake graphite plant development.”
Right to export
In operation since 2009, the Port d’Ehoala is described as a world-class port operation with the capacity and infrastructure to manage the growing development of Southern Madagascar’s emerging graphite region.
Essentially BlackEarth’s newly granted permit covers the export of all graphite-related products produced at its Maniry project.
In addition to the right to export, the port will provide ship loading and other services in accordance with Rio Tinto Limited’s safety standards.
That’s because the Southern Madagascar port is jointly owned and operated by Rio Tinto and QIT Madagascar Minerals — a mining company jointly owned by Rio Tinto plc (LON:RIO) and the Madagascan government.
BlackEarth’s Maniry operations currently carry a 10-year life of mine and a 2.7 year payback period.
Currently, the graphite developer is exploring at the project’s Razafy NW high-grade area in a bid to expand Maniry’s resource and support its proposed stage two expansion.
A definitive feasibility study for the flagship asset is scheduled to complete early in 2022.
The potential applications for graphite concentrate from the Maniry project.