JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – ASX-listed Bass Metals is nearing the completion of Stage 1 of the optimisation programme for its Graphmada large flake graphite mine, in Madagascar, and expects its first production next month.
In an operational update, Bass CEO Tim McManus reported on Thursday that first production would come from the recommencement of drying and packaging operations in December.
Once the drying and packing system is fully operational, the process plant will be recommissioned in January, with the aim of ramping up production over consecutive months to 500 t/m of high-value graphite concentrates.
“It is important that the team stages the recommissioning process so that the drying and packaging system is capable of providing consistent high-quality concentrates to our old and new customers alike,” McManus said.
He added that the drying and packaging system and the refurbished process plant would be brought together as one production system to maximise the mineral resource potential of Graphmada.
Stage 1 of Graphmada, which Bass bought from StatMin last year will have a 6 000 t/y run rate, while Stage 2 will target 30 000 t/y by 2019.