Name of the Project
Bunyu graphite project.

Location
Tanzania.

Project Owner/s
Volt Resources.

Project Description
Bunyu is one of the biggest graphite deposits in the world, with a resource of 461-million tons at 4.9% total graphitic carbon for 22.6-million tons contained graphite. The project includes a proven reserve of 127-million tons at 4.4% total graphitic carbon.

The project will be developed in two stages.

An updated feasibility study on Stage 1 published in August 2023 proposes a mining and processing plant throughput rate of 400 000 t/y of ore to produce on average 24 780 t/y of graphite products over a 13.7-year mine life.

Volt intends to progress to Stage 2 to leverage the platform established by Stage 1, and Bunyu’s status as one of the biggest graphite resources globally, to dramatically scale production to 170 000 t/y and help meet the forecast global increase in demand for graphite products.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

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
Over the past three months, a customer's designated testing partner has conducted testing on graphite concentrate.

Volt has said there is an “excellent match” between its results of particle size, particle size distribution, density, moisture and carbon content, and the results obtained by the customer-designated testing partner.

Efforts are now under way to optimise the graphite surface area – as it impacts on the economics of graphite anode production – and send a sample to the customer-designated testing partner for further evaluation.

Moreover, as per customer request, Volt has shared additional documents on the Bunyu feasibility study, cost estimate details, process plant details, implementation schedule, hydrology study, metallurgical testwork, tailings storage facility report and the environmental- and social-impact statement.

Volt has said in a statement that building a localised supply chain compliant with the Inflation Reduction Act of the US and the Critical Minerals Act in Europe remains a priority for the company’s target customers. Continued sample evaluation and information requests are consistent with customer priority.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.

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