Name of the Project
Bunyu graphite project.

Location
Tanzania.

Client
Volt Resources.

Project Description
Bunyu has total proven and probable reserves of 2.82-million tonnes grading 6.3% total graphitic carbon. The project will be developed over two stages.

Stage 1 is based on a mining and processing facility based on a plant throughput of 400 000 t/y to produce an average 23 700 t/y, with a nominal mine life of 7.1 years.

The proposed mining method is a conventional, drill, blast, load and haul openpit, with waste material stacked in waste dumps. Mining will be undertaken by a contractor under the control and management of Volt Graphite Tanzania personnel and will likely be operated on a 12-hour 365 d/y basis as required.

A bench height of 6 m has been selected, excavated in 3 m × 2 m lifts or flitches. This is considered appropriate for the orebody and the equipment proposed by mining contractors.

Stage 2 will be an expansion of Stage 1 production based on the market demand for Bunyu’s graphite products and leveraging the large-scale graphite mineral resource and Bunyu’s close proximity to critical infrastructure.

Potential Job Creation
Stage 1 has a pretax net present value, at a 10% discount rate, of $18.6-million and an internal rate of return of 21%, with a payback after-tax of 4.4 years.

Value
Stage 1 has a capital cost of about $31.8-million.

Duration
Not stated.

Latest Developments
Volt Resources has been granted two mining licences covering the Stage 1 and Stage 2 developments of its Bunyu graphite project.

The mining licences have been granted subject to three conditions, including an acceptance of the boundaries and coordinates of the amended application, the company accepting the proposed licence, and the payment of $1 000 in preparation fees for each licence.

Volt’s near-term focus remains the successful completion of the proposed $40-million note issue for the Bunyu development.

Following the completion of the note issue, and board approval, Volt will proceed with the front-end engineering and design work for the initial Stage 1 operations, and the ordering of the long-lead time components.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Volt Resources, tel +61 8 9486 7788 or email info@voltresources.com.