Modern Mining September 2018

COUNTRY FOCUS: MOZAMBIQUE

graphite mining ‘hotspot’

Although Balama can claim to be the first entirely new graphite mine to have been built in Mozambique in recent years, it was pre- ceded into production by the small Ancuabe mine, originally established by Kenmare in the 1990s. Ancuabe was officially opened in late June last year by President Nyusi. It is oper- ated by GK Ancuabe Graphite Mine, S.A., a subsidiary of the German company AMG Graphit Kropfmuehl GmbH, an operating divi- sion of AMG and an affiliate of Alterna Capital Partners LLC. GK Ancuabe Graphite Mine’s representa- tive, Geert Klok, said in a statement at the time of the opening that the company had invested

Above: Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi is seen here at the official opening of Balama in April this year (photo: Syrah). Left: The Balama process- ing plant has a nameplate capacity of 350 000 tonnes per annum (t/a), with the reserves being sufficient for over 50 years of operation at full production (photo: Syrah).

demand), Balama will rank as the world’s sin- gle biggest producer of flake graphite and will probably propel Mozambique into the number two spot globally (after China) as a graphite producer.

The processing plant of the Ancuabe graphite mine has a capacity of 9 000 t/a (photo: GK Ancuabe Graphite Mine, S.A.).

MODERN MINING  27

September 2018