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Bass Metals continues to ramp up graphite concentrate production in Madagascar

Published: 15:02 16 May 2018 AEST

Wet concentrates produced from Graphmada’s refurbished process plant
Wet concentrates produced from Graphmada’s refurbished process plant

Bass Metals Limited (ASX:BSM) is continuing its successful commercial ramp-up of production at the Graphmada Large Flake Graphite Mine in eastern Madagascar.

The stage I refurbishment of operations at Graphmada is now fully operational, with the commercial ramp-up well advanced.

READ: Bass Metals' shares spike on plant commissioning as it approaches near-term production

Importantly, the completion of stage I established Bass as one of only two ASX listed producers of graphite, and one of only four publicly listed graphite producers globally.

Production of premium graphite concentrates has now been successfully achieved, with large flake graphite concentrates produced consistently above 94% fixed carbon with recoveries above 75%.

Production at Graphmada Large Flake Graphite Mine

Bass is now on track to reach nameplate production of 500 tonnes of premium large flake graphite concentrate production per month.

Exploration activities progressing to plan

The company’s exploration activities at the Mahela Graphite Deposit, located near the Graphmada Mine, has confirmed that the area contains large flake graphite mineralisation within the weathered profile.

Additionally, phase I of the initial exploration program at Millies reward is now well advanced and progressing to plan.

To date, phase I has identified eight high priority prospects which are undergoing field prospecting, mapping and rock-chip sampling.

Aiming to supply the rapidly growing fire retardants market

Bass chief executive officer Tim Mcmanus said: “Achieving high Fixed Carbon concentrate grades with improving recoveries lays the foundation to rapidly achieving our production target of 500 saleable concentrate tonnes per month.

“We also continue to develop our plans for a stage II expansion to 20,000 tonnes per annum and the stage III downstream production of expandable graphite products, with particular emphasis on supplying the rapidly growing fire retardants market, were concentrates alone can command over US$4,000 per tonne.”

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