Name of the Project
Orom-Cross graphite project.

Location
Uganda.

Project Owner/s
Graphite, nickel and copper developer Blencowe Resources.

Project Description
A prefeasibility study (PFS) has highlighted an exceptional long-life project that delivers considerable returns over an initial life-of-mine of 14 years.

An estimated 600 000 t/y of ore will be mined from the commissioning date and this will increase to 2.4-million tonnes a year by the time the project is fully ramped up in Year 10.

Mining will be free-dig, with no drill-and-blast required. Initial ore will come from saprolite (clay) at an average depth of about 15 m to 20 m. Both deposits (Northern syncline and Camp lode) identified in the drilling programmes will be mined and a composite blend of both will be fed into the processing plant that will be built on site.

An initial 36 000 t/y of end-product will be delivered from the plant as concentrates, which will increase in two additional stages to 147 000 t/y once the mine is fully ramped up. 

Further resources, higher production volumes and an extended mine life can all be obtained at any stage by drilling additional ready-targets. This, however, is not currently considered a priority.

The processing flowsheet comprises a flash and rougher flotation stage, followed by a primary cleaning circuit with a polishing mill and three stages of cleaner flotation. The intermediate concentrate is classified and then further upgraded in secondary cleaning circuits using stirred media mills, followed by cleaner flotation.

Orom-Cross will deliver at least five different end-products, characterised by +50 mesh, +80 mesh, +100 mesh, +150 mesh and -100 mesh. These products will have different markets and will be branded and packaged on site.

Initially, transport to port will be by road, but it is expected that a rail option might be available by 2025, further reducing logistics costs.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The project has an after-tax net present value, at an 8% discount rate, of $482-million and an internal rate of return of 50%.

Capital Expenditure
The initial capital requirement has been lowered by 23%, to $62-million, since the preliminary economic assessment was announced in 2021. 

Planned Start/End Date
The initial start-up phase of Orom-Cross development is targeted for 2026.

Latest Developments
Blencowe Resources has announced that testwork is ongoing on natural flake graphite from the project, led by American Energy Technologies Company (AETC) and other partners in the EU’s SAFELOOP initiative.

AETC is developing a next-generation electric vehicle (EV) anode that primarily uses natural flake graphite rather than synthetic graphite. According to Blencowe, this could significantly impact on battery composition and increase demand for natural graphite.

The Orom-Cross project has been selected as the sole supplier of natural flake graphite for SAFELOOP, the EU’s flagship Gen3 battery programme. The three-year initiative under the EU’s €100-billion Horizon funding scheme aims to create a safer, more sustainable, high-performance lithium-ion battery while enhancing

Europe’s autonomy over critical mineral supply chains.

Blencowe’s inclusion in SAFELOOP is attributed to the high quality of its graphite. The company believes that his partnership could position Orom-Cross as a key supplier to the European market from 2028, offering one of the few secure, large-volume sales routes for natural graphite in the region.

From January to May 2025, several milestones were achieved. Graphite was refined to 99.98% carbon using AETC’s proprietary purification process – considered a premium grade within the sector and suitable for specialised applications, including defence.

AETC also produced an advanced EV anode comprising more than 68% of Orom-Cross natural flake graphite, presenting a more sustainable and efficient alternative to the synthetic graphite typically used in current EV batteries. Blencowe has asserted that the properties of its graphite make it a viable replacement for synthetic material, supporting the shift towards commercialising natural graphite-dominant anodes.

Pilot batches of this anode have been distributed to SAFELOOP’s industrial partners for evaluation. Blencowe has reported that the test results have so far exceeded performance benchmarks across the battery development chain.

At a recent SAFELOOP General Assembly in Nyborg, Denmark, Blencowe Chief Operating Officer Iain Wearing presented the Orom-Cross project. The graphite was acknowledged as a strategically important material aligned with the EU’s critical mineral objectives. Following this, the company has entered into new offtake discussions with members of the SAFELOOP consortium and other European battery manufacturers.

Blencowe executive chairperson Cameron Pearce has described SAFELOOP as a rare and strategic offtake opportunity, particularly its potential for large-volume, premium-priced sales. He has characterised the current testwork as potentially transformative, with the capacity to shift the industry away from synthetic graphite in favour of sustainable alternatives such as Orom-Cross graphite.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Battery Limits (PFS); IMO (technical testwork); and CPC Engineering (DFS).

Contact Details for Project Information
Blencowe Resources, tel +44 1624 681 250 or email info@blencoweresourcesplc.com.