Tag Archives: Balama

Syrah contracts Worley for anode material facility expansion

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Syrah Resources has awarded Worley Group with a contract to provide detailed engineering and procurement services for the initial expansion of production capacity at its “Active Anode Material” (AAM) facility in Vidalia, USA.

Worley, working with the Syrah project team, will undertake the detailed engineering and procurement for the planned 10,000 t/y AAM facility. These services have commenced and are being delivered by Worley’s US Gulf Coast team based in Louisiana.

“Worley is well positioned to maintain continuity through the next phase of Vidalia’s expansion due to its significant knowledge of Vidalia’s processing technologies and key equipment packages and integration with the Syrah project team,” Syrah said.

The two have worked through the previous project phases for the planned expansion of production capacity at Vidalia, including the bankable feasibility study, front-end engineering and design and interim detailed engineering. Worley also carried out engineering, procurement and construction services for the integrated and commercial scale facility at Vidalia.

Syrah plans to award contracts for construction management of the AAM facility prior to making a final investment decision for the expanded plant. This is planned during the second half of 2021.

Syrah operates the Balama graphite mine in Mozambique along with the downstream AAM facility in the US.

Syrah to integrate solar, battery power solution at Balama graphite mine

Energy minerals, Environmental, Mine operation news, Mining services, Power supply for mines, Sustainable mining, , , , , , ,

Syrah Resources has announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Solar Century Africa Ltd to progress a solar and battery storage hybrid power system to work in conjunction with the existing diesel generation power plant at its Balama graphite mine in Mozambique.

The solar and battery storage system aims to reduce CO2 emissions and operating costs at the operation.

Solar Century and Syrah have undertaken technical design and pricing analysis through 2020 for several solar and battery options at Balama, from which Syrah has chosen its preferred solution of 11.2 MW solar with an 8.5 MW battery, subject to final design. The solar and battery installation will work in conjunction with the existing 15 MW diesel generation power plant at Balama, which the company said was chosen as a low-risk power generation option for the initial establishment of operations at Balama.

Syrah Managing Director and CEO, Shaun Verner, said: “Progression of a large-scale solar and battery installation will reduce the operating cost base at Balama and further strengthen the ESG credentials of Balama’s natural graphite supply and the future supply from our vertically integrated battery anode material project in Vidalia, USA.”

The MoU establishes the terms and conditions under which Syrah and Solar Century will continue with the development of the design, funding, construction and operation of a solar and battery installation under a build, own, operate and transfer arrangement.

Syrah declares commercial output at Balama graphite project in Mozambique

Energy minerals, Industrial minerals, Mine operation news, Mineral project development, , ,

Syrah Resources has declared commercial production at its majority-owned Balama graphite operation in Mozambique.

“Following a review of monthly operating metrics, the board has determined that the criteria to achieve commercial production, as set out in the 2017 annual report, have been met with effect from January 1, 2019,” the company said.

During the December quarter, natural graphite production came in at 33,000 t, with full-year (2018) output of 104,000 t in line with the company’s updated guidance. Achieved average graphite recovery of 70% in the most recent quarter, was some way up on the September quarter average of 53%.

Shaun Verner, Managing Director and CEO of Syrah, said: “The declaration of commercial production represents a key milestone for Syrah, reflecting the significantly improved production consistency and strong recovery improvements.

“We continue to implement further operational improvements in ongoing ramp up, to bring recoveries in line with our medium and longer term targets.”

Syrah will provide further details of the December quarter performance in its quarterly activities report, to be released on January 3, 2019.

The 2 Mt/y Balama project has a nameplate capacity of 350,000 t/y of graphite concentrate. It is an open-pit operation with processing consisting of crushing, grinding, flotation, filtration, drying, screening and bagging.