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 completed the Stage 7 drilling programme, which has confirmed the continuity of mineralisation to depths below 100 m.

The programme spanned 6 750 m across 221 resource holes, eight geotechnical holes and six deep holes, with a significant number of assays still pending. Drilling concluded with three deep drill holes at the Northern Syncline target, following the success at the Beehive target.

Both targets have reinforced the potential for a materially larger resource at depth for Orom-Cross, which supports a longer mine life and an expanded valuation in the company’s upcoming definitive feasibility study (DFS).

All of Blencowe’s drilling to date has been focused on tenement ML 1959 that already has a 21-year mining licence in place.

Once all the results are received, Blencowe will further advance the DFS and publish a new mineral resource estimate.

The company also owns several proximal tenements covering a much larger area. Limited fieldwork on the surrounds have showed evidence of similar graphite deposits and offers potential for resource expansion.

Independent geologists have estimated that Orom-Cross may hold more than two-billion tonnes of graphite, Blencowe has pointed out.

The company is advancing workstreams and discussions on offtake, mine design infrastructure, permitting and environment, as well as social and governance aspects.

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.