Proactive Investors - Blencowe Resources (LON:BRESB) said it had completed a critical step in commercial-scale testing, by converting 600 tonnes of in situ raw material from its Orom-Cross deposit into graphite concentrate.
Chinese partner Jilin carried out the processing, with 30 tonnes of 96% contrate produced or the same quality as previous smaller-scale tests.
Blencowe added it now has a substantial quantity of both large and small flake concentrate products to apply further testing for potential offtakers.
A final stage of processing will see Taida, a leading SPG producer, beneficiate 20 tonnes of small flake concentrate into 10 tonnes of 99.95% battery grade uncoated SPG (spheronised purified graphite).
Talks continue with potential offtakers Blencowe said adding that passing this test also qualifies it for additional grants from US agency the DFC.
Cameron Pearce, Blencowe’s executive chairman, commented: "We have highlighted this bulk sample test requirement as a key component of the Definitive Feasibility Study and we have undergone this process using some of the most experienced graphite producers in the world, and in doing so we have opened some interesting doors for additional value-add strategy.
“We will continue to press forward to get to our goal of having tier one offtake agreements in place as soon as possible for all of our end products."