Name of the Project
Bunyu graphite project.

Location
Tanzania.

Project Owner/s
Volt Resources.

Project Description
An updated prefeasibility feasibility study (PFS) has improved the economics of the Stage 1 project, based on a mining and processing plant of 400 000 t/y of ore producing on average 24 780 t/y of graphite products.

The updated PFS has estimated a capital cost of $33.1-million, compared with the $31.8-million estimated in the 2018 PFS, with the project’s net revenue increasing from $268.6-million to $433.2-million, its after-tax net present value from $14.7-million to $36.4-million and its internal rate of return from 19.3% to 23.6%.

The project’s mine life has also increased from 7.1 years, estimated in the original PFS, to nearly 14 years.

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.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The updated PFS delivers a pretax net present value of $58.9-million and an internal rate of return of 31.5%, with a payback period of 2.9 years.

Capital Expenditure
The updated PFS has estimated a capital cost of $33.1-million, compared with the $31.8-million estimated in the 2018 PFS.

Planned Start/End Date
Not stated.

Latest Developments
Volt Resources has signed a letter of intent (LoI) with US firm M2i Global Inc to supply up to 20 000 t/y of graphite to the US Department of Defence (DoD).

Under the LoI, M2i will attempt to secure a graphite procurement contract with DoD for up to 20 000 t/y of graphite for three years. Volt would deliver graphite of between 94% and 99.5% purity from its subsidiary Zavalievsky Graphite. If feasible, Volt will extend long-term supply of graphite from Bunyu Tanzania Phase 2 production for M2i customers.

“With the ability to supply natural flake graphite produced in Europe and future production from our Tanzania-based Bunyu graphite project, combined with battery anode material production technology advancing in the US, Volt offers future growth opportunities through the entire supply chain few graphite companies can match,” Volt executive chairperson Asimwe Kabunga has said.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.

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