Giyani Metals, a Canadian critical minerals developer, is progressing toward delivering its first battery-grade manganese from the K-Hill project by year-end.
The company announced today that its Demo Plant, under construction in Johannesburg, has entered the commissioning phase.
Key developments include the successful commissioning of the steam boiler, plant air supply system, and demineralized water facility.
This Demo Plant is a smaller-scale replica of the planned Commercial Plant, which Giyani intends to build in Botswana.
The facility will allow Giyani to fine-tune the design and operations of the larger plant, scheduled for construction and ramp-up by 2027.
The Commercial Plant will be located near the company’s 100%-owned manganese oxide deposits in southern Botswana.
The Demo Plant’s operations will help optimize engineering design and minimize operating costs and carbon emissions.
These activities are running concurrently with the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS), which is expected to conclude in 2025.
Once fully operational, the Demo Plant is expected to produce up to 600 kg per day of high-purity manganese sulfate monohydrate (HPMSM) in the fourth quarter of 2024.
The HPMSM will be supplied to offtakers for testing and qualification purposes. Giyani will continue to provide updates on the Demo Plant’s progress.
Charles FitzRoy, Giyani’s President and CEO, highlighted that the Demo Plant’s commissioning aligns with the company’s target of delivering its first battery-grade manganese by Q4 2024.
FitzRoy emphasized that the plant’s size and continuous operation provide Giyani with a competitive edge, allowing for stable, long-term production and engagement with potential offtake partners.
The Demo Plant’s continuous process flow will also reduce project risks and offer critical insights into the future Commercial Plant’s performance.
“The successful commissioning of the Demo Plant is a pivotal step in proving the project’s value to investors and potential offtake partners, as well as establishing Giyani as a leading producer of high-purity manganese for the EV battery market. We look forward to sharing further updates on our progress,” FitzRoy added.
