Giyani progresses to production ramp-up at demonstration plant

Highlights:

• The production ramp-up (C5 commissioning) phase has commenced, and the team continues to work determinedly towards first production of battery-grade manganese (HPMSM). The demo plant materially advanced hot commissioning (C4 commissioning) during January 2025. C4 and C5 commissioning naturally progress in parallel in the final stages of commissioning.
• Demo plant product samples are on track to be produced in 1Q25 and then provided to potential off-takers to begin qualification trials as part of the offtake process, which will form an integral component of project financing.
• The demo plant is designed to identify opportunities, improve the design, and significantly de-risk the project as Giyani will better understand how the commercial plant (to be built in Botswana) will respond in advance of construction, commissioning, and ramp-up.
• The demo plant also enables final optimisation of the engineering design and flowsheet in order to reduce operating costs and carbon profiles, in parallel with the definitive feasibility study (DFS) which is underway and expected to be completed in 2025.
• In addition to targeted operating cost reductions, Giyani announced last week the receipt of its special economic zone (SEZ) licence for its commercial plant which is planned for construction adjacent to Giyani’s extensive, 100% owned manganese ore sources in Botswana.
• The SEZ licence will directly positively impact the company as the SEZ Licence brings with it fiscal and non-fiscal benefits.
• CEO Charles FitzRoy has also been in Johannesburg seeing the demo plant progress ahead of a pre-Indaba investor site visit to the demo plant.

Charles FitzRoy, President and CEO of the company, commented:

“Giyani’s demo plant is progressing to the production ramp-up commissioning phase, and the team continues to work determinedly towards first production of battery-grade manganese. Our technical and operational teams are demonstrating excellent skill and resilience in navigating the usual late-stage commissioning challenges that occur when plants ramp-up toward production. All the learnings and identified adjustments we are making from the process underway further endorse the strategic decision to construct a demo plant at a 1:10 scale to the planned commercial facility.

“The demo plant is an essential component in Giyani’s long-term strategy to deliver high-purity battery- grade manganese to the EV market. This production capacity establishes a strong foundation for Giyani to engage with potential offtake partners, as the continuous process flow of the demo plant will allow the team to target steady-state operations over extended periods, consequently proving Giyani’s ability to produce consistent battery-grade manganese and satisfy offtake requirements.”

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/mining/05022025/giyani-progresses-to-production-ramp-up-at-demonstration-plant/