Modern Mining April 2022

MANGANESE

Giyani Metals in the starting blocks The shift to a low carbon economy is driving development in clean energy technologies and products such as electric vehicles which, in turn, is propelling demand for related min erals including cobalt, copper, lithium, rare earth elements and high-purity manganese. By N elendhre Moodley.

A recent commitment by the Zero Emission Vehicle Transition Council to sell only zero emission vehicles by 2040 – and earlier in leading markets – is a clear signal that the industry is serious about lowering its carbon footprint. According to research agency Gartner, electric vehicles are an important power train technology in helping to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the transport sector and it has forecast electric vehicle sales to increase by 35% in 2022 (around 6,4 million units), 1,6 million more than in 2021. For Giyani Metals, a Canada-based mineral resource company which is targeting production of high-purity electrolytic manganese, a precursor material used in the manufacture of electric vehicles, 2022 is a milestone year as the explorer progresses the development of its flagship K.Hill manganese project in Botswana and courts investors and off take partners. According to CEO Robin Birchall, the appetite for high purity, or battery grade, manganese sulphate is set to rise exponentially over the coming decade. “Current demand is less than 50 000 t (contained manganese),” he explains, “but this is predicted to rise to between 350 000 t and 900 000 t by 2030.” At present, around 90% of production comes from China and so consumers – battery makers and

automotive companies – have limited options for diversifying their supply chains. “The high purity manganese sulphate industry is currently facing deficits as acute as those for lithium, nickel and cobalt, and prices have almost doubled in the past 18 months. Giyani Metals is one of a tiny number of developers outside of China rising to meet this demand, and 2022 will be a pivotal year as we move past the feasibility study stage on our K.Hill manganese project towards pilot production.” K.Hill manganese – a producer by 2023 Giyani Metals has an extensive land package cov ering 2,588 km 2 in south-eastern Botswana and is developing three manganese prospects in that country – Kgwakgwe Hill mine (K.Hill), Otse and Lobatse – all located within the Kanye Basin, which consists of 10 prospecting licenses. The K.Hill Project is located near the town of Kanye, which hosts good rail and road connec tions, sufficient water supply and reliable power connectivity. According to Birchall, aside from hav ing a highly-attractive high-grade resource, the K.Hill asset is located in a country with a supportive juris diction that is consistently ranked as the top mining location in Africa and benefits from strong support at both local and government level. “As a result of its favourable tax regulations and

Giyani Metals CEO Robin Birchall.

An outcrop at the K.Hill asset. Inset: K.Hill manganese core sample.

38  MODERN MINING  April 2022