Bass on track to lift Madagascar graphite output

Australia-based Bass Metals is on track to increase output during the current July-September quarter at its Graphmada large flake graphite project in Madagascar after achieving production milestones last month.

The project produced 745 wet metric tonnes (wmt) of graphite during July-August compared with 1,005wmt for April-June. July output of 301wmt was affected by a five-day maintenance shutdown but output recovered to 444wmt in August. This included a new daily record of 29wmt in August.

Large flake graphite output comprised 61pc of total output in July and August compared wiht 42pc in April-June. Large flake graphite with fixed carbon content of around 94pc receives higher prices than finer flake graphite.

Bass expects sales during July-September to exceed 1,000wmt, up on 783wmt for April-June. It has sales channels in the US, India and Europe.

The Graphmada project produced 4,031wmt of graphite in the July 2018-June 2019 fiscal year. But Bass is aiming to increase its output and sales through operational efficiencies and expanding the mine's mineral resources.

Mozambique, Tanzania and Madagascar have become the largest sources of natural graphite outside of China, with several projects either in production or in the final stages of development.