Highlights

2019

IPEX-Bank was mandated in April 2019 to arrange senior debt funding of approximately US$40 million for Epanko, including preparing an application for approval under the German Untied Loan Guarantee (“UFK”) scheme through Euler Hermes AG.

2017

An upgraded 60ktpa Bankable Feasibility Study was completed in 2017, led by GR Engineering Services Limited and involving leading consultants from Africa, Australia, Asia and Europe. A significant milestone and further advances debt financing for Epanko. At the request of proposed lender KfW IPEX-Bank an Independent Engineer’s Review was completed in August 2017 by SRK Consulting, confirming that the Bankable Feasibility Study addresses all technical  and financial aspects of the proposed development and that the social and environmental planning aspects satisfy IFC Performance Standards and World Bank Group Environmental, Health and Safety Guidelines.

2015

May 2015 also saw the Company receive an environmental certificate for the development of Epanko. A resource upgrade, increased the contained graphite at Epanko to 2.195Mt from 6.6Mt of measured resource at 9.7% TGC, 7.9 Mt indicated resource at 10.0%TGC and 8.8Mt indicated resource at 8.7% TGC.

TanzGraphite was granted a Mining Licence to develop Epanko in July 2015. A Feasibility Study was finalised in July 2015.

2014

In January 2014 the Company commenced environmental studies at Epanko, necessary for the granting of a mining licence. An environmental and social impact assessment was lodged with the National Environmental Management Council (Tanzania) in September and Australian engineering firm GR Engineering Services engaged to undertake a feasibility study on Epanko.
February 2014 saw the commencement of exploration and evaluation of the prospecting licences at Arusha/Merelani and the historic Merelani graphite mine. A maiden resource estimate an Merelani was completed in May 2015.

2013

Further drilling and analysis of the results, resulted in a mineral resource of 14.9Mt, grading 10.5% total graphitic carbon (TGC) for 1.56Mt of contained graphite in May 2013. A scoping study completed in July 2013 provided the confidence the Company needed to continue to advance exploration of Epanko and the potential economics of it development. The development potential was enhanced when TanzGraphite (TZ) Limited entered into an offtake agreement to sell Epanko graphite with a European graphite trader.

2012

TanzGraphite (TZ) Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Australian registered and Australian Securities Exchange listed company EcoGraf Limited. Incorporated on 7th August 2012, TanzGraphite was registered to explore and evaluate the potential of Tanzania for graphite. Following a review of historical records and follow up geological field work TanzGraphite applied for a prospecting licence at Epanko, purchased seven prospecting licences at Arusha/Merelani and entered into an option to acquire further prospecting licences at Mahenge.

Funded by EcoGraf Limited, TanzGraphite undertook a drilling program on the Mahenge and Epanko licences. This exploration work resulted in a graphite exploration target at Epanko. These results lead to TanzGraphite making the decision to relinquish its Mahenge option and focus on the quality prospectivity at Epanko.

Project Financing

The Epanko mine development is planned to be funded through a combination of limited recourse debt finance and equity. Encouraging progress was made during the year to advance the project financing program and resolve issues arising from the impact of Tanzania’s 2017 new mining legislation on international debt financing arrangements in the mineral sector.

Tanzania has continued to develop its capacity to regulate the mineral sector, establishing a new Mining Commission in 2018, appointing a new Minister of Minerals Hon. Doto Biteko in January 2019 and issuing further regulations to improve transparency and accountability across the industry.

EcoGraf representatives have held meetings with Ministers and senior Government officials from the Tanzanian Ministry of Minerals, the new Mining Commission, the Bank of Tanzania and the Tanzanian Investment Centre. These meetings have focused on Epanko financing arrangements and the impact of the new laws, in particular the local content regulations relating to the use of banks and operation of bank accounts, the Government free-carried interest, the extent of Tanzanian participation and warehousing and export procedures.

Feedback across all levels of Government has been supportive of new investment and includes confirmation of the Mining Commission’s intention to renew the Epanko mining licence upon expiry in 2025 and the continued eligibility of foreign financial institutions to fund mineral projects. As a result of this progress, in April 2019 German financier KfW IPEX-Bank was mandated to arrange senior debt funding of approximately US$40 million for Epanko, including preparing an application for approval under the German Untied Loan Guarantee (“UFK”) scheme through Euler Hermes AG. The UFK process is very thorough but enables Epanko to access long term debt finance at competitive interest rates. Due diligence and credit approvals are progressing as quickly as possible on the basis that the remaining regulatory aspects impeding new Tanzanian mine financing arrangements will be satisfactorily resolved.

In conjunction with the UFK program, a second lender has commenced credit processes in relation to the provision of senior debt funding of up to US$20 million under a common terms loan facility with KfW IPEX-Bank, for a combined project debt funding amount of US$60 million.

EcoGraf has also continued discussions with several potential strategic partners about equity investment in Epanko, with interest received from European and Asian industrial organisations as projected demand for battery graphite continues to increase, attracting investment attention to the sector.