Blencowe Resources PLC (LSE:BRES) said today that a revised, upgraded JORC estimate for its flagship Orom-Cross graphite project in Uganda was imminent.
After a drilling programme last year, technical partner Minrom is now working through a revised JORC Standard Resource which is expected for completion in the next month.
This programme was designed to infill the initial 2020 drilling programme and provide information for initial mine designs.
“This JORC Resource will provide enough tonnes for the first 15 years life of mine at expected mining levels, and no further drilling is therefore required prior to first production,” said today’s statement.
Metallurgical test work is also ongoing in Canada on the graphite recovered in last year’s drilling and once completed this will kickstart a marketing programme with potential offtake partners.
Current plans are for a pilot plant to be built in 2023 that will provide smaller quantities over a period of 18-24 months prior to the main production plant being commissioned in 2025.
Bkecowe added it had also appointed a general manager in Uganda, Nabil Alam, to lead all operations on the ground.
Cameron Pearce, Blencowe's executive chairman added: "There is an enormous quantum of work underway in all areas related to the Orom-Cross Project and our team is progressing well in every aspect, continuing to value-add to this exceptional graphite project as we drive towards first production next year.
"We expect considerable news flow from all these areas as noted above during the first quarter of 2022 and all indications suggest we will continue to show that this is a robust graphite project amongst global peers.”