Tirupati Graphite PLC (LON:TGR) has said it is fast-tracking the expansion of primary graphite output from its Vatomina and Sahamamy projects in Madagascar.
The company is on track to commission Vatomina in the second quarter of 2021 and to build production to 6,000 tonnes per year.
This will take capacity across both projects to 9,000 tonnes per year of flake graphite output.
The company's strategy is to increase its production capacity of high-quality flake graphite concentrate with up to 96% purity to 81,000 tonnes per annum by 2024 from the current 3,000 tonnes per year produced at Sahamamy.
The commissioning of Vatomina is central to this expansion of output.
“The expansion of primary graphite output from our Madagascan projects to reach 9,000 tonnes per year capacity is another important milestone and constituent of our development plan,” said Shishir Poddar, chief executive of Tirupati Graphite in a statement.
"The demand within the flake graphite market is increasing, which is helpful in our endeavours to expedite the delivery of additional capacity,” he added.