Name of the Project
K. Hill manganese project.

Location
Kanye basin, south-eastern Botswana.

Project Owner/s
Manganese development company 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’s processing plant will produce about 100 000 t to 120 000 t of high-purity manganese sulphate a year and about 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 aims to have the feasibility study for its K.Hill project completed in the third quarter of this year, after which the company will begin development on its demonstration plant.

Completing the demonstration plant will enable Giyani Metals to produce test samples of its material to send to customers in the electric vehicle battery sector in 2023, thereby ensuring that it is eligible for customers’ prequalification procurement.

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 +1 289 291 7632 or email info@giyanimetals.com.