Name of the Project
K. Hill manganese project.

Location
The Kanye basin, in south-eastern Botswana.

Project Owner/s
Giyani Metals Corp.

Project Description
The project will be developed to produce high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate (HPMSM), a precursor chemical used in the manufacturing of rechargeable battery cathodes for electric vehicles.

The project is expected to produce 891 000 t of high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate over its ten-year mine life.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The updated preliminary economic assessment (PEA) has increased the project’s pretax net present value, at a 10% discount rate, from $357-million in the April 2020 PEA to $431-million in the April 2021 PEA. The internal rate of return has decreased from 82.10% to 80% after tax. The project has a payback of three years.

Capital Expenditure
The project will require a capital investment of about $153-million.

Planned Start/End Date
First shipments are expected in 2023..

Latest Developments
Giyani Metals has announced the handover of the process flowsheet for K. Hill project.

The flowsheet, developed by Coffey Geotechnics, a Tetra Tech company, has been accepted by a specialist hydrometallurgical engineering firm.

The engineering firm will use the process flowsheet to provide the basis for the engineering of a demonstration plant, capable of producing HPMSM, which is anticipated to be capable of producing about 600 HPMSM crystals a day.

The HPMSM crystals are used in the manufacture of lithium-ion battery (LiB) cathodes.

The company has already placed an order for one crystalliser unit of the plant and, following formal engagement, the engineering firm will begin construction.

The demo plant will provide material to potential customers for quality testing, with the first shipments expected in 2023.

The final HPMSM product will have a target quality specification developed from discussions with several of the world’s biggest battery makers and electric vehicle (EV) companies, Giyani has noted.

As the company advances towards first production from the demo plant, it has continued its discussions with various EV and LiB manufacturers, as well as strategic international marketing groups, regarding future offtake and potential financing options.

He adds that the list of LiB manufacturers and EV companies evaluating the project continues to grow.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Mintek (metallurgical testwork); SRK Consulting (updated mineral resources estimate); and Tetra Tech subsidiary Coffey Geotechnics (metallurgical testwork programme and process flowsheet development).

Contact Details for Project Information
Giyani Metals Corp, tel +128 9291 4032 or email info@giyanimetals.com.