Apr 21 2017
Energizer Resources Inc. announces that it has revised Phase 1 of its mine development plan for its 100%-owned Molo Graphite Project in Madagascar to now include significant production and that the completion of an updated Feasibility Study (FS) to reflect this development is imminent.
The Company's decision to initiate an updated FS on its Molo Graphite Project was based on the positive results of the Company's Front-End Engineering and Design Study that was completed this past November and communicated to the market November 7, 2016. Based on these results and a further detailed analysis of the available technical information from the now completed Detailed Engineering Study (which will be reflected in the FS), the Company has decided to develop a fully sustainable graphite mine in Phase 1 of the mine plan of the Molo Graphite Project.
Phase 1 Now Elevated From Planned Demonstration Plant to a Producing Mine
15,000 Tonnes Annual Production Estimated
Phase 1 of the Molo mine plan will now consist of the construction of a fully operational and sustainable graphite mine with a permanent processing plant capable of producing approximately 15,000 tonnes per annum ("tpa") of high-quality flake concentrate per year with a mine life of over 20 years. This is a significant increase from the original Phase 1 mine plan that was detailed in the Company's November 7, 2016 news release that envisioned the construction of a demonstration processing plant to produce flake graphite concentrate on a test basis. The Company has now completed a Detailed Engineering Study with respect to the revised Phase 1 mine plan, which demonstrates the viability of a modular build out and supports the anticipated initial production of 15,000 tpa.
The Company expects that, subject to funding, Phase 1 could be completed in approximately 6 months. Once funding is secured, the Company will initiate the Phase 1 build-out, which will include equipment procurement, off-site modular fabrication and assembly, factory acceptance testing (FAT), module disassembly, shipping, plant infrastructure construction, onsite module re-assembly and commissioning.
Phase 2 - Expansion to 53,000 Tonnes of Annual Production
Phase 2 of the Molo mine plan will consist of the expansion to a fully operational mine capable of producing 53,000 tpa of finished flake graphite concentrate. This expansion will be predicated on market demand for Molo flake graphite during Phase 1 production and will consist of additional mine build-out infrastructure, including construction of a tailings dam facility.
The Company is now preparing for the release of the revised FS and commencement of procurement for the resulting mine infrastructure. Robin Borley, the Company's Senior Vice-President of Operations, and Mr. Johann de Bruin, the former Managing Director of DRA Africa who joined Energizer as a consultant in March, will oversee all aspects regarding the operational readiness of the Company's newly revised Phase 1 Molo mine plan.
The assumptions, parameters and methods in establishing the above estimates are currently being finalized and will be disclosed in the updated and soon to be released Molo Graphite Project Feasibility Study.