AMN - TANZANIA: Lindi Jumbo mining licence granted

Emerging graphite developer Walkabout Resources has become the first ASX-listed entity to be granted a mining licence in resource-rich Tanzania. This will allow the company to develop its US$29 million high-grade open-pit Lindi Jumbo graphite mine in the country’s southeast.

Speaking at the Paydirt 2018 Africa Down Under mining conference in Perth, Walkabout’s executive director Allan Mulligan, announced the approval.

“This is a sign that Tanzania’s mining sector is open for business with the introduction and implementation successfully of the much more transparent mining legislature over the past 12 months,” he said.

“Securing the mining licence means Walkabout can now fast-track Lindi Jumbo and we anticipate first shipments of large flake graphite concentrate within nine to 12 months.

“The construction of the mining infrastructure is conventional and straightforward, and will be based around the importation of modular processing units from China.”

Walkabout received confirmed from the Ministry of Minerals of Tanzania for the granting of Mining Licence ML00638/2017.

Upon paying the fee and accepting the technical detail, Walkabout will be authorised to finalise the on-site Relocation Assistance Program (RAP), which is in advanced valuation draft from the Chief Government Valuer.

Allan Mulligan said the mining approval also meant the company could now complete the engineering, procurement and construction agreement with construction partner, Yantai Jinpeng Mining and Machinery to allow final plant orders to be placed.

Granting of the mining licence also allows Walkabout to further progress advanced project funding options, which have been pending this milestone.

The project hosts a JORC 2012-compliant measured, indicated and inferred mineral resource of 29.8 million tonnes at an estimated grade of 10.9 % total graphitic carbon (TGC).

This resource contains a super high-grade core of 4.7 million tonnes at 22.8% TGC for 1,076,500 tonnes of contained graphite, making it the highest mineable graphite resource in Tanzania.

Walkabout also owns a 70% stake in an adjoining graphite prospective licence.

www.wkt.com.au