Mozambique possesses vast reserves of mineral resources, including graphite. This raw material is seen as a promising component for the future of the energy sector, especially in the automotive industry.
Data from the platform Mining Intelligence indicate that Mozambique leads the list of the 10 largest graphite exploration projects and reserves in the world, with two major projects.
These include the Nicanda Hills project, led by Triton Minerals, in the first position, and Tirupati Graphite’s project, both located in the Balama district, Cabo Delgado Province.
Balama North/Nicanda Hill
Development Status: Paused at the feasibility stage.
Triton Minerals’ Balama/Nicanda Hill project in Mozambique ranks first with 41.7 million tons (mt) of contained graphite. It is located in Cabo Delgado, northern Mozambique, the same province where Syrah Resources’ Balama mine, the world’s largest graphite production facility, is situated. The project is currently suspended. Cabo Delgado Province has experienced armed conflicts due to Islamic insurgency.
Balama Central
Development Status: Authorized.
Tirupati Graphite’s Balama Central project in Mozambique ranks ninth with 2.732 mt. The flake graphite from Balama Central is of fine quality and is used as raw material in the graphite anode market.
Other Projects
#2 Sarytogan
Development Status: Pre-feasibility stage.
In second place is the flagship project of Sarytogan Graphite Limited, with 36.3 mt of contained graphite in the Karaganda Province, Central Kazakhstan. It is advancing through a pre-feasibility study.
#3 Lac Gueret
Development Status: Preliminary Economic Assessment.
The Lac Gueret project of Mason Resources, located in northeastern Quebec, ranks third with 11.3 million tons of contained graphite. Mason Resources released a preliminary economic assessment in January and entered into an option and joint venture agreement with Nouveau Monde Graphite to collaborate on advancing the project.
#4 Mahenge
Development Status: Authorized.
The Mahenge project of Blackrock Mining in Tanzania ranks fourth, with 9.3 mt of contained graphite. The Mahenge project covers 324 square kilometers of exploration land in the Ulanga district of Tanzania, about 250 km north of the Mozambique border.
#5 Siviour
Development Status: Authorized.
Renascor Resources’ Siviour project ranks fifth with 5.2 mt of contained graphite. The Siviour graphite project is located 15 kilometers from Arno Bay on the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
#6 Epanko
Development Status: Authorized.
The Epanko graphite project in Tanzania ranks sixth, with 4.8 mt of contained graphite. In April, owner Ecograf Ltd signed a framework agreement with the Government of Tanzania for the Epanko project, which will offer supply diversity and scale-up options.
#7 La Loutre
Development Status: Pre-feasibility stage.
Lomiko Metals’ La Loutre project in Quebec ranks seventh, with 2.9 mt of contained graphite. The most concentrated supply of natural flake graphite projects is found in Quebec’s Grenville geological province, with Lomiko’s La Loutre project at its core.
#8 Malingunde
Development Status: Pre-feasibility stage.
NGX Limited’s Malingunde project in Malawi ranks eighth, with 2.733 mt of contained graphite.
#10 Bunyu
Development Status: Feasibility stage.
Rounding out the list is Volt Resources’ Bunyu project in Tanzania, with 2.3 mt of contained graphite. The project is located 140 km from the deep-water port of Mtwara in the East African country.
Source: MZNews / Mining
