Walkabout Resources Ltd (ASX:WKT) is pursuing its ambition to become one of the top five natural graphite producers outside of China as it begins concentrating ore at its 40,000 tonnes per annum Lindi Jumbo Graphite Mine in Tanzania.
Managing director and CEO Andrew Cuningham said: “Ore feed to the concentrator circuit at Lindi Jumbo is a huge step forward in Walkabout’s journey to becoming a major player within the natural flake graphite industry.
“It is the culmination of more than six years of feasibility, procurement, engineering, construction and commissioning work undertaken by the Lindi Jumbo team and its contractors.
“We have achieved this milestone with a strong focus on safety, capital cost controls, partnering with the local community, support of our loyal contractors and the minimisation of shareholder dilution.
Strategic importance
“The strategic importance of Lindi Jumbo is reinforced by China’s recent introduction of export controls on graphite and its products, and the increased attractiveness of both the US and European markets supported by the US Inflation Reduction Act and the EU Critical Raw Materials Act.”
Lindi Jumbo is the first debt-funded graphite mine outside China and the first significant mining project in Tanzania in more than a decade.
With its production currently unpriced, Lindi Jumbo is strategically positioned to capture full market value amid global graphite shortages.
This allows the mine to respond flexibly to price fluctuations in the market, potentially maximising revenue.
Wet commissioning underway
Commissioning activities continue to ramp up at Lindi Jumbo. Multiple stages are involved as the mine moves towards operational readiness, including both dry and wet commissioning phases.
The mine's 40,000 tonnes per annum concentrator is in the middle of wet commissioning, having successfully integrated ore through the full concentrating circuit, producing an unscreened wet concentrate.
A commissioning team, composed of Jinpeng specialists alongside Lindi Jumbo’s technical staff, is working to ensure the plant’s throughput meets the planned 40,000 tonnes.
The plant has experienced minor setbacks, including issues with fuel supply consistency, impacting the commissioning of the back-end plant.
That said, mining operations have resumed, with the high-grade stockpile growing to around 34,000 tonnes of graphite ore.
The company has secured key support contracts for mining services, laboratory services and export logistics, which will enhance operational support as wet commissioning continues.
What’s next?
As wet commissioning progresses at the plant, the aim is to ramp up production to meet full capacity within four months, with a targeted recovery rate of over 85% within the first year.
Lindi Jumbo graphite flotation (left) and graphite concentrate cake (right).
Walkabout is also exploring opportunities to use the plant’s excess capacity to increase production based on market demand.
The company plans to offer a reliable alternative to Chinese-produced graphite and supporting diverse industrial applications, including those critical for battery production.
Successful commissioning of Lindi Jumbo could shift dynamics in the graphite market, particularly for coarse flake graphite.
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