Black Rock Mining is gearing up to develop its Mahenge graphite mine in Tanzania, having now opened three offices at local villages. The Mahenge graphite project is one of the largest premium graphite flake deposits in the world. It boasts a 212 million tonne resource grading a respectable 7.8% total graphite content with a 70m tonne, higher grade, 8.5% TGC reserve already eeked out. The company says it has now established key relationships with locals and Government, both of which are key requirements for doing business in Tanzania.
Black Rock Managing Director and CEO, John de Vries, said: “The building of the village offices in partnership with the people of Kisewe, Mdindo, and Nawenge [villeges] represents the first part of our promise of “giving the keys”. The real message here is that by doing things together we can achieve great things together.
Tanzania’s Minister of Minerals, the Honourable Doto Biteko said: “We must now rapidly move to clear the way for new compliant large-scale mines to be developed. I look forward to Mahenge Resources Limited leading the way for these next-generation Tanzanian mines.”
“We believe graphite will be an important part of these new mines, and that the Mahenge region will be recognised internationally as a source of the world’s best graphite.”
Importantly, all mining permits necessary to operate in Tanzania have now been approved under Tanzania’s mining code, clearing the decks for Black Rock to launch headlong into developing its project.
The project’s definitive feasibility study showed an extraordinary 32-year initial mine life, making it a “multi-generational” operation that will produce a 98.5% premium graphite flake concentrate with the ability to go even further and reach ultra-pure levels of around 99%.
With offtake agreements already in place, a product that has been stacking up well metallurgically and a recent $24 million shot in the arm for the upfront project financing, all eyes will be on Black Rock as it hurtles towards production.
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By Matt Birney
