Marula Mining, an Africa-focused mining and development company, has signed several agreements for the supply and delivery of manganese ores to its 80%-owned Kilifi processing plant in Kenya.
The company has completed sampling and received assay results confirming high-grade manganese mineralisation that will be supplied to the plant.
Additionally, Marula and its metallurgical consultants have been conducting metallurgical testwork and plant optimisation studies in preparation for the planned commencement of commercial operations and export sales this quarter.
The Kilifi plant is a fully permitted mineral processing facility capable of beneficiating approximately 10,000 tonnes per month of manganese ore using a conventional manganese processing circuit.
This includes a vibrating feeder, trommel scrubber, belt conveyor, jig separator, vibrating screen, pumps, fine jaw crusher, magnetic separator, and stockpiling areas for both run-of-mine and final manganese products.
Marula states that the focus of the metallurgical testwork and plant optimisation studies has been to produce a higher-grade saleable manganese product than originally anticipated.
This decision to proceed with the work and delay the start of commercial operations to the current quarter follows high-grade assay results reported on August 24, 2024, from the lower sections of manganese-rich deposits in the surrounding Ganze region, which have an average grade of 61.95% manganese. These results could significantly impact the economic returns from the Kilifi plant.
“The company is pleased to confirm that the final phase of metallurgical testwork and plant optimisation studies has now been completed.\
The testwork on three samples has confirmed that the Kilifi plant is capable of producing a saleable product with up to 40% manganese,” said Marula Mining.
“This product is achieved without major upgrades to the current plant configuration, involving only minor modifications to the trommel scrubber, vibrating screens, and the expansion of final product stockpiling areas.”
Assay results from the metallurgical testwork have been received from both the Kenya State Department for Mining laboratory in Nairobi and an independent, internationally accredited laboratory. These results confirm that the manganese content of the saleable product ranges between 37% and 40%.
Final modifications to the Kilifi plant are now underway, following a recent site visit by the company’s CEO, chairperson, and other members of the executive and technical management teams.
During the visit, the company approved a work programme focusing on minor modifications to the trommel scrubber’s screen sizes and vibrating screens, as well as the expansion of the final manganese product stockpiling areas to accommodate the targeted increased processing rates.
These final modifications are expected to be completed during the current quarter, with plant commissioning and the first export sales to follow shortly thereafter.
