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AfrElec RENEWABLES AfrElec
Gratomic releases update for
Namibia’s Aukam Graphite project
NAMIBIA CANADA-BASED global graphite supplier a press release.
Gratomic has released an update on earth-mov- “During the process, the team intercepted its
ing activities at its flagship Aukam Graphite pro- first mineralised vein and started moving mate-
ject in Namibia. rial to the ROM pad. A representative sample of
The TSXV-listed company has updated inves- the material will be sent to the laboratory to con-
tors on the progress of its benching programme firm grade,” it added.
at Aukam, where first material has recently been According to Gratomic’s chief executive
moved to the run-of-mine (ROM) pad, Proac- officer (CEO) Arno Brand, the company’s recent
tive Investors reported. financing secured its ability to complete the
Gratomic is focused on high-grade, natural benching and initial mining programmes.
graphite deposits in desirable mining jurisdic- “I am very pleased to witness the rapid
tions. The company currently has projects in progress being made by our in-house mining
Namibia, Brazil and Canada, and aims to secure team,” Brand was quoted by Proactive Investors
a strong position in the electric vehicle (EV) bat- as saying. “The first intercept of graphite came
tery supply chain. weeks ahead of expectation and brings forth a
The benching process consists of “berms” great deal of excitement as we steadily prepare to
(raised level shelf) cut into the mountain edge re-launch mining operations at Aukam for the
to gradually expose underground material and first time in 46 years.”
collect graphite in stages while maintaining Gratomic is working towards a feasibility
the stability of the mountain, writes Proactive study (FS) on the Aukam processing plant, which
Investors. will provide recommendations for upgrading
According to Gratomic, the preparation the existing processing plant to a commercial
phase of the benching programme is of the facility capable of delivering the desired concen-
utmost importance as it is focused on maintain- trate grades and production rates.
ing the safety and stability of the mountain struc- The supply of graphite is conditional on Gra-
ture throughout the entire benching process. tomic being able to bring the Aukam project into
“During the past several weeks, road con- a production phase, and for any graphite being
struction was completed to the upper part of the produced to meet certain technical and mineral-
mountain, and actual benching of the moun- isation requirements, says the company.
tainside began in earnest,” the company said in
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