Giyani Metals Corp. (TSXV:EMM, GR:A2DUU8)
("
Giyani" or the "
Company"),
developer of the K.Hill Battery-Grade Manganese Project in Botswana
("
K.Hill" or “
the Project”), is
pleased to provide an update on the commissioning of the
Demonstration Plant (“
Demo Plant”). See update
video here (link: https://youtu.be/acXeQR-VmiI) with CEO, Charles
FitzRoy, Group Process Engineer, Justin Taylor, and Lead Process
Engineer, Desiree Mayer.
Highlights:
-
The Demo Plant in Johannesburg is progressing efficiently through
the commissioning phase. Progress since the last report (see
October 22, 2024 news release) includes the completion of dry
commissioning (C2) for the majority of systems, including the
complex crystalliser, and progression through wet commissioning
(C3).
-
The Demo Plant remains on track for production of battery-grade
manganese (HPMSM) before year-end. HPMSM produced from the Demo
Plant will be provided to offtaker qualification.
-
The continuous process flow capability of the Demo Plant is a
significant advantage, as it allows the team to operate the
facility at steady state, enabling production of consistent
specification battery-grade manganese (HPMSM), a key requirement
for potential offtake partners.
-
Installation of the ISO-certified, independent laboratory is
near-complete, a key component for offtake testing. The onsite lab
forms another key part of the Demo Plant’s ability to produce a
consistent specification product, as it enables the team to
continually test and adjust if necessary to ensure Giyani’s HPMSM
meets the strict criteria of the OEM’s high-purity battery-grade
manganese requirements.
-
As the Demo Plant is a smaller scale, direct copy of the proposed
Commercial Plant (to be built in Botswana), this significantly
derisks the project as Giyani will better understand how the
Commercial Plant will respond in advance of construction,
commissioning, and ramp-up of that facility, which is planned for
2027. The Commercial Plant will be constructed adjacent to Giyani’s
extensive 100% owned manganese oxide ore sources in Southern
Botswana.
-
The Demo Plant 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.
Charles FitzRoy, President and CEO of
the Company, commented:
“Giyani’s Demo Plant is firmly in the
commissioning phase, and on target to deliver first production of
battery-grade manganese before year-end. The Demo Plant’s
production capacity establishes a strong foundation for Giyani to
engage with potential offtake partners: and offers Giyani many
advantages that would not be available with a smaller or
non-continuous facility. 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. This continuous operation at pre-commercial scale
also provides critical information for understanding how the
Commercial Plant will respond, significantly de-risking the
Project.
We were proud to host our partners the
Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa
(“IDC”) at the Demo Plant to showcase the progress
we have made with the support of the IDC’s US$16M facility and we
look forward to continuing to strengthen our relationship.
The results from the Demo Plant will ultimately
yield significant strategic and operational benefits, and is a
crucial step in the Company’s mission to become a dominant producer
of high-purity battery-grade manganese for the EV battery market.
We look forward to providing further updates in due course.”
Figure 1: Demo Plant Overview Looking
South
Demo Plant Construction
Update
The Demo Plant, consisting of nine Process
Modules (each a self-contained process system within a fixed
frame), is largely at the status of Construction Complete, and the
bulk of the plant has been handed over to the commissioning crews.
A few later delivery items are due for delivery and installation
shortly.
Progress since the last report in October
includes the completion of C2 commissioning, and progression
through C3 commissioning.
The exciting process of C3 commissioning has now
commenced. The C3 stage can be undertaken at an individual Process
Module level, ensuring a systematic approach Commissioning of the
full process flow (C4 & C5) will commence once all the
individual Process Modules are C3 Complete.
Figure 2: Valve Open/Closed Testing
During C2 Commissioning
Stages of commissioning:
-
C1 – Full mechanical completion (individual Process Modules)
-
C2 – Dry testing, direction testing, loop testing (individual
Process Modules)
-
C3 – Cold/Water Commissioning, software testing (individual Process
Modules)
-
C4 – Hot Commissioning with reagents and steam (full Process)
-
C5 – Production Ramp-up (full Process)
The commissioning process is being led by
Desiree Meyer, Giyani’s Lead Process Engineer. Desiree has
extensive experience in commissioning hydrometallurgical facilities
across Africa and she will lead the Minopex operations team in
these efforts. By working through commissioning, Minopex will
rapidly develop its familiarity with the facility, making Demo
Plant production operations safer and more efficient.
Figure 3: Demo Plant Render
In addition to progress at the Demo Plant,
concurrent metallurgical test-work is underway to further optimize
the flowsheet. Giyani is focussed on further reducing reagent use
and improving both the operating cost and carbon profiles for the
Commercial Plant, planned for construction adjacent to Giyani’s
extensive 100% owned manganese oxide ore sources in Southern
Botswana.
Figure 4: Onsite Independent
Lab
The Demo Plant is designed at a scale factor of
approximately 1:10 to the planned Commercial Plant. This provides
robust and reliable scale-up from the Demo Plant data when the
Commercial Plant is implemented. To illustrate, the leach tanks
have a 60cm diameter in the Demo Plant and this is expected to be
8-10x larger at approximately 5m in the Commercial Plant.
Within the Demo Plant, the following progress
has been made since the last Demo Plant update in October:
-
Commissioning is firmly underway and the Demo Plant is moving
through the C3 phase currently.
-
The modifications to the laboratory room are complete, and most of
the laboratory equipment has been installed.
Figure 5: Onsite Independent Lab
Preparation Area
Demo Plant Operational
Overview
Giyani is continuing with software finalisation
on the Yokogawa DCS software that will be used to operate Giyani’s
fully continuous Demo Plant. The ability to continuously operate at
this pre-commercial scale will allow Giyani to understand how the
Commercial Plant will respond ahead of construction, minimizing
issues that could arise during ramp-up and operations. Unlike a
lab- or pilot-scale operation, a full, industrial control system is
required to operate this large-scale, automated, hydrometallurgical
plant.
The development of all process standard
operating procedures (“SOPs”) is complete and
Minopex are reviewing and refining these procedures to ISO
International Standards. As the Demo Plant is a direct copy of the
anticipated Commercial Plant, albeit at a 1:10 scale, the overall
operating requirements and system requirements are very similar.
Alongside the engineering, commercial and research benefits of the
Demo Plant, the development of SOPs will facilitate a smooth
transition to full-scale production.
The independent, fully ISO-certified laboratory
will allow commercial-level metal accounting and provide rapid
assay turnaround times to enable effective operation of the Demo
Plant. The laboratory equipment, which includes ICP-OES and XRF
machines, has been delivered to site and most of it has been
installed. Sensitive equipment will be installed at the final
stages of commissioning to protect it.
Other Matters
The Company also announces that Danny Keating
has resigned from the board of directors, effective November 13,
2024. Mr. Keating is not on the slate of directors to be elected at
the upcoming annual general and special meeting of shareholders to
be held on November 15, 2024.
About Giyani
Giyani is focussed on becoming the dominant
western-world producer of sustainable, low carbon high purity
battery grade manganese for the electric vehicle
(“EV”) industry. The Company has developed a
proprietary hydrometallurgical process to produce battery grade
manganese (HPMSM), a lithium-ion battery cathode precursor material
critical for EVs.
The Company has secured financing of US$26m from
two strategic partners, ARCH Sustainable Resources Fund LP and the
Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa, enabling it to
progress the K.Hill battery-grade manganese project in Botswana to
construction by building and operating the Demo Plant and
completing a Definitive Feasibility Study in 2025.
Additional information and corporate documents
may be found on www.sedarplus.ca and on Giyani Metals Corp. website
at https://giyanimetals.com/.
About Minopex
Minopex is a global leader in plant operations
and maintenance, employing over 2,000 personnel across different
operations. With nearly three decades of experience, Minopex has
collectively operated some 50 different processing facilities as
well as having commissioned and ramped-up over 90 globally,
establishing itself as a leader in a variety of minerals processing
technologies. For more information about Minopex, visit:
www.minopex.com.
Qualified Persons / NI 43-101
Disclosures
A National Instrument 43-101 (“NI
43-101”) technical report including results of the PEA and
the MRE can be found on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and made
available on the Company's website at
https://giyanimetals.com/.
Justin Taylor CEng
FIMMM QMR BSc Eng (Chem) is a qualified person, as defined by NI
43-101. Mr. Taylor is the Company’s Group Process Engineer and has
reviewed and approved the scientific and technical content
contained in this news release but is not independent for the
purposes of NI 43-101.
On behalf of Giyani Metals Corp.
Charles FitzRoy, President and CEO
Contact:
|
Giyani
Metals Corp. |
cfitzroy@giyanimetals.com |
|
Charles FitzRoy, President & CEO |
Tel: +1289-291-7632 |
|
|
|
|
Tavistock, Financial PR |
giyani@tavistock.co.uk |
|
Tara Vivian-Neal |
+44 20 7920 3150 |
|
|
|
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nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in
the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy
or accuracy of this news release.
The securities described herein have not been
registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws,
and accordingly, may not be offered or sold to, or for the account
or benefit of, persons in the United States or "U.S. persons," as
such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S.
Securities Act ("U.S. Persons"), except in compliance with the
registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable
state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a
solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Company's securities to,
or for the account of benefit of, persons in the United States or
U.S. Persons.
Forward Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking
information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities
legislation. All statements in this news release, other than
statements of historical fact, that address events or developments
that Giyani expects to occur, are "forward-looking statements".
Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical
facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words
"expects", "does not expect", "plans", "anticipates", "does not
anticipate", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects",
"potential", "scheduled", "forecast", "budget" and similar
expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may",
"could", "should" or "might" occur.
Such statements include without limitation: the
Company the ongoing construction, commissioning and operation of
the Demo Plant, and timing thereof, completion and timing of the
DFS or at all.
All such forward-looking statements are based on
the opinions and estimates of the relevant management as of the
date such statements are made and are subject to certain
assumptions, important risk factors and uncertainties, many of
which are beyond Giyani's ability to control or predict.
Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and
assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results,
level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially
different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. In the case of Giyani, these facts include anticipated
operations in future periods, planned construction and development
of its properties and facilities, and plans related to its business
and other matters that may occur in the future. This information
relates to analyses and other information that is based on
expectations of future performance and planned work programs.
Forward-looking information is subject to a
variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
which could cause actual events or results to differ from those
expressed or implied by the forward-looking information, including,
without limitation: inherent exploration hazards and risks; risks
related to exploration and development of natural resource
properties; uncertainty in Giyani's ability to obtain funding;
commodity price fluctuations; recent market events and conditions;
risks related to governmental regulations; risks related to
obtaining necessary licences and permits; risks related to Giyani's
business being subject to environmental laws and regulations; risks
related to the Company's mineral properties being subject to prior
unregistered agreements, transfers, or claims and other defects in
title; risks relating to competition from larger companies with
greater financial and technical resources; risks relating to the
inability to meet financial obligations under agreements to which
they are a party; ability to recruit and retain qualified
personnel; and risks related to the Company's directors and
officers becoming associated with other natural resource companies
which may give rise to conflicts of interests. This list is not
exhaustive of the factors that may affect Giyani's forward-looking
information. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties
materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect,
actual results may vary materially from those described in the
forward-looking information or statements.
Giyani's forward-looking information is based on
the reasonable beliefs, expectations and opinions of the Company's
respective management on the date the statements are made, and
Giyani does not assume any obligation to update forward looking
information if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations
or opinions change, except as required by law. For the reasons set
forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on
forward-looking information. For a complete discussion with respect
to Giyani and risks associated with forward-looking information and
forward-looking statements, please refer to Giyani's continuous
disclosure documents which are filed on SEDAR+ at
www.sedarplus.ca.
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