AMN - MADAGASCAR: Molo engineering study almost complete

A Detailed Engineering Study on Energizer Resources’ Molo Graphite Project in Madagascar is expected to be completed by March 31. The decision to undertake the study was based on the positive results of the Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) Study, which was completed in November.

Detailed engineering represents the final stage of project development and is performed before project construction starts and when the procurement of equipment to construct a mine is imminent. It follows FEED and consists of detailed diagrams and drawings for construction, civil works, instrumentation, control system, electrical facilities, management of suppliers, schedule of activities, cost schedules and economic evaluation.

Meantime, DRA Africa’s former Managing Director Johann de Bruin, has joined Energizer as a consultant. DRA is the largest and most successful African-based mining engineering and construction company, with 20 offices in five continents and over 3000 employees around the globe.

DRA prepared the company's feasibility study on the Molo project in 2015 with Mr de Bruin acting at the time as the primary liaison between DRA and the company. Johann de Bruin also served on Energizer's board of directors from 2012 until 2014, when he stepped down to focus on his increasing responsibilities at DRA.

Johann de Bruin's mandate will be to oversee all aspects regarding the operational readiness of the Molo project as the company prepares for the commencement of procurement for mine infrastructure.

He will support the company's Senior Vice-President of Operations, Robin Borley, and together will ensure that the project, post-funding, meets all operational requirements during the implementation process. Robin Borley was the former director of mining for DRA before joining Energizer in 2013 as both Senior Vice-President and Director, and is an expert in project set-up and technical mining knowledge.

The combined skill-sets of Robin Borley and Johann de Bruin, honed from their respective tenures at DRA, provide Energizer with an unparalleled expertise in the successful implementation and optimised delivery of complex, multi-disciplinary mining projects in developing jurisdictions, and specifically in Madagascar.

Energizer’s president and CEO Craig Scherba said, "The decision to initiate detailed engineering indicates the advanced stage that Energizer has achieved in the development of its Molo project and our expectation that we can achieve our goal to begin producing graphite by year end.

“The addition of Mr de Bruin to our already solid engineering team signals yet another major milestone in the development of the Molo mine. The proven track record that Johann and Robin have in delivering complex projects in complex jurisdictions will further aid to reduce the overall project risk and is a differentiator to the many projects out there where management may lack the experience in delivering a mine.”

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