Optimisation test work at graphite developer Kibaran Resources’ Epanko project, in Tanzania, has flagged the potential trebling of planned battery-grade graphite production.
MD Andrew Spinks told shareholders on
Monday that the optimisation test work had confirmed the positive
results of Kibaran’s new purification process, which used simple
chemicals without the need for hydrofluoric acid.
He said that the new development could
potentially double the value of the Epanko project, given that every
lithium-ion battery that used the purified natural graphite would have
been subjected to hydrofluoric acid.
“The purification results are
revolutionary given the elimination of hydrofluoric acid. We remain
confident that this will significantly assist the company to secure a
major share of the market and given expected growth, this will lead to a
significant growth at both the mine and battery manufacturing
facility,” Spinks said.
Kibaran has now increased the planned
production rate of its battery graphite to ramp up from 6 000 t/y to 20
000 t/y. The expansion was supported by major Japanese and Korean anode
manufacturers, which expected future demand requirements to grow by
between 300 per cent and 400 per cent by 2020.
Anode manufacturers in Asia will now assess the first product from the new flow sheet.
No comments :
Post a Comment