AQSE- and A2X-listed Marula Mining’s Tomra COM XRT 1200 ore sorter has been decommissioned in Gauteng and will be transported to Springbok in the Northern Cape soon, the company said on August 1.

The ore sorter is destined for the Blesberg lithium and tantalum mine as part of the company’s plans to expand production and export spodumene ores and higher-value lithium products.

"It's good to finally see progress with the delivery and planned installation and commissioning of the Tomra ore sorter at Blesberg.

"Despite the unforeseen and frustrating delays, we remain focused on our goal to enhance our ore processing capabilities and produce high value mineral products at Blesberg, and that extends beyond the spodumene ore and lithium products to also include the valuable by-products that have been identified on site,” Marula Mining CEO Jason Brewer said.

Marula said it had engaged several contractors, including Tomra Systems, for the delivery, refurbishment and commissioning of the ore sorter at Blesberg.

On arrival in Springbok, it will undergo maintenance and refurbishment work ahead of its installation and commissioning at the mine.

Marula said that the ore sorter was an integral part of the company's plans to expand the ore processing capacity at Blesberg and production of a high-grade lithium spodumene ore and other higher-value lithium products.

The ore sorter’s commissioning at Blesberg has been delayed by several months as a result of matters outside of the company's control. Upon commissioning of the ore sorter, the directors believe that Marula will be in a position to produce higher-value lithium products.

Marula said that civils contractors have also been engaged to complete the site civil and engineering works at Blesberg for the ore sorter installation.

Tomra Systems will also oversee the installation and commissioning of the ore sorter at Blesberg alongside the company's management team and consultants.

Samples of all rock types of different size fractions at Blesberg have been previously provided to Tomra as part of the earlier analyses and recovery testwork which determined its suitability.

Bulk sample preparation of different size fractions will also now begin at Blesberg as part of the initial trials and optimisation work after the ore sorter's commissioning on-site, the company explained.

Commissioning of the ore sorter at Blesberg is considered one of the key steps in Marula's plans to expand its ore processing capacity to achieve its planned increased levels.

The installation of the ore sorter and additional crushing and screening capacity will also allow the company to process the fines material to maximise recovery of lithium and tantalum mineralisation and the upgrading of the spodumene product to produce a higher value lithium product.

Marula said that discussions with the company's lithium ore offtake partner and end-users of lithium products in China for battery manufacturing had already started as part of this process to produce a high-value lithium product on site at Blesberg.

"With contractors now engaged alongside our management team and the team from Tomra Systems, I am confident in the progress that we will make and in delivering on our plans at Blesberg.

"Once both the Tomra and Rados ore sorters are operating at Blesberg, I look forward to see what they will deliver to our operations as we push ahead with our delayed expansion plans,” Brewer said.

KENYA MANGANESE
Meanwhile, Marula subsidiary Muchai Mining Kenya (MMK) has entered into a manganese ore supply agreement with Kenyan incorporated and 100%-female-owned mining, mineral processing and logistics company Kitmin.

The ore agreement is for an initial period from August 1, this year, to December 31, 2026, and may be extended by a further three years thereafter.

Kitmin will be responsible for the supply and delivery of a minimum 10 000 t/m of manganese ore at a minimum grade of 20% manganese to the Kilifi manganese processing plant.

The Kilifi plant is a mineral processing plant capable of processing about 10 000 t a month of run-of-mine manganese ore.

The ore agreement with Kitmin is on standard commercial terms, with the purchase and delivery of the manganese ore on a fixed unit price basis. With these scheduled ore deliveries, it allows MMK to operate the Kilifi plant at full capacity.

"Signing this manganese ore supply and delivery agreement with Kitmin marks a significant milestone for us as we look to commence manganese ore processing and export operations at the Kilifi plant.”

"This partnership will not only provide us with a stable and consistent supply of manganese ore to the Kilifi plant but also reinforce our commitment to fostering strong, strategic relationships within the mining industry in Kenya. By working closely with the team at Kitmin, we hope to be able to leverage their extensive in-country expertise and resources, which should enhance our operational capabilities,” Brewer said.

Under the terms of the ore agreement, MMK will make an advance cash payment to Kitmin for the first 5 000 t of manganese ore, with the funds to be used to mobilise equipment and meet Kitmin's funding requirements to allow for the start of production and delivery of manganese ore.

Marula and MMK are still reviewing additional manganese mining operations in the local area as further and complementary sources of ore feed to the Kilifi plant.

"We believe that this ore supply agreement and the commencement of processing and mineral export operations at the Kilifi plant will not only benefit Marula but also positively impact the local communities by creating more job opportunities and driving economic growth,” Brewer said.

The finalisation of logistics contracts for both the transportation of the saleable manganese production to Mombasa port, located about 60 km from the Kilifi plant, and its export and shipping into the export markets is progressing and is also expected to be completed by end of the third quarter.

"Marula is quickly building their presence in Kenya's mining sector and we . . . look forward to our partnership with [them] and the positive impacts our combined activities at Kilifi will have,” Kitmin MD Poonam Varma said.