Modern Mining December 2024

Giyani’s demonstration plant commences commissioning Giyani Metals, developer of the K.Hill Battery-Grade Manganese Project in Botswana, has announced that its Demonstration Plant is moving into the commissioning phase. CEO Charles FitzRoy commented: “Giyani’s Demo Plant is now entering the commissioning phase, in keeping with our target to deliver first production of battery-grade manganese in Q4 this year. The superiority of the demo plant in kind and size establishes a strong foundation for Giyani to engage with potential offtake partners, and offers Giyani many advantages that would not be available with other smaller or non-continuous facilities. In particular, the continuous process flow of the Demo Plant will allow the team to target steady-state operations over extended periods, consequently proving Giyani’s ability to produce consistent battery-grade manganese and satisfy offtake requirements. Similarly, continuous operation at pre-commercial scale provides critical information for understanding how the commercial plant will respond, significantly de-risking the project. The successful construction and operation of the demo plant is, therefore, a crucial step in not only demonstrating the fundamental value of the project to investors and potential offtake partners, but also in the company’s trajectory to becoming a leading producer of high-purity battery-grade manganese for the EV battery market.”

Giyani’s demonstration plant commences commissioning.

Highlights: As the demo plant is a smaller scale, direct copy of the proposed commercial plant, Giyani will better understand how the proposed commercial plant (to be built in Botswana) will respond in advance of construction, commissioning and ramp-up of that facility, planned for 2027. The commercial plant will be constructed adjacent to Giyani’s extensive 100% owned manganese oxide ore sources in Southern Botswana. The demo plant remains on track for commissioning and production of up to 600 kg a day of battery-grade manganese (HPMSM) in Q4 2024. HPMSM produced from the demo plant will be provided to off-takers for testing and qualification. n

Lotus completes drill programmes at Letlhakane uranium project

Harmony awarded gold at Eco-Logic Award

communities and the economy, especially in water-scarce jurisdictions. Where Harmony has mining operations in South Africa, municipalities have been unable to maintain and operate state-owned WWTPs. To address this issue, and to contribute to a cleaner and more stable ecological environment around its mines, Harmony refurbished three WWTPs on behalf of the Matjhabeng, Matlosana and Merafong municipalities. “We have partnered with our municipalities to increase sewage treatment capacity by around by 30 million litres per day. We have invested more than R35 million in refurbishing all three WWTPs and all three projects have been delivered on time, on budget with zero injuries,” said Dr Urishanie Govender, Chief Sustainability Officer at Harmony. n

ASX-listed Lotus Resources recently

reported results from the final 21 holes drilled at its large-scale Letlhakane Uranium Project in Botswana. Letlhakane’s Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE), constrained by pit shells based on

reasonable prospects of eventual economic extraction (RPEEE), is 155.3 mt at 345 ppm U3O8 for 118.2 mlb U3O8, of which 34.4 mlb (or 29%) are Indicated Mineral Resources. Lotus CEO Greg Bittar commented: “Our infill programme at Letlhakane has delivered terrific results, with 162 out of 164 holes drilled intersecting uranium mineralisation. This confirms the continuity and grade of this substantial uranium resource, which is located in a world class mining jurisdiction, Botswana. We are also excited about our exploration drill programme delivering mineralised intercepts across all holes drilled. We are now focused on updating the MRE, while also progressing metallurgical testing and evaluating the potential for ISR extraction for the deeper portions of the orebody.” n

Harmony awarded gold at Eco-Logic Awards.

Gold miner, Harmony Gold was recently awarded gold in the Water Conservation Category at the Eco-Logic Awards – held in Cape Town on 30 October – for refurbishing three municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs). Access to secure water supply is critical to mining and the development of people,

DECEMBER 2024 | www.modernminingmagazine.co.za  MODERN MINING  5