1st Dec 2014 11:19
01 December 2014
StratMin Global Resources Plc
("StratMin" or the "Company")
Production and Sales Update
StratMin (AIM: STGR), the graphite production and exploration company with assets in Madagascar, announces an update on its production and sales figures.
For the period from 1 July 2014 to 7 November 2014
Until 7 November 2014, and as a result of Stratmin being focused on delivering the offtake agreement as announced on 21 October 2014 (the "Offtake Agreement"), production at Lohorano was focused on the completion of specific sales orders and testing developments.
Test work was carried out at the beneficiation plant to improve the carbon grade of the concentrate as well as volume and recovery metrics. Analysis of the results of this testing is ongoing but notable highlights included concentrate numbers of up to 93 per cent carbon and volumes of up to 25 tons per hour head feed rate. New dewatering machines were installed to replace the filter press, which has had the positive effect of reducing the pre-drier moisture content from 45 per cent. to between 20 - 25 per cent.
For the period 7 November 2014 to 30 November 2014
As a result of the signed Offtake Agreement, the plant has since operated one shift per day, six days per week from 7 November 2014.
Carbon content across the flake sizes continues to improve with the larger flakes maintaining the highest carbon grades of up to 93 per cent. Further improvements are expected throughout December and into January 2015, in particular with the medium flake and smaller flake sizes.
Whilst actual volumes and recovery vary according to changes made to the plant to achieve carbon grade requirements, the plant has achieved, separately, up to 18 tons per hour head feed and 88 per cent recovery.
In total 140 tonnes of graphite was produced through the beneficiation plant in November. In addition, capacity and quality of dry product screening has already improved with the delivery of one new screen. Two further units are expected to arrive at site during the month of December.
Production numbers for the month of November are as follows:
Grade as a percentage of carbon | Volume in tons | |
Unscreened | 91-94% | 67 |
+50mesh | 90 - 92% | 23 |
-50+80mesh | 91% | 39 |
-80mesh | 86 - 89% | 11 |
Total | 140 |
In total, the Company has exported a total of 220 tons of graphite to customers over the period August - October 2014. Monthly sales figures for November and December 2014 are expected to be reported in early January 2015.
Manoli Yannaghas, StratMin's Managing Director, commented:
"As this announcement demonstrates, sales of product have continued throughout the late summer and autumn. Our product is increasingly satisfying market requirements, as such November sales are showing a sales similar pattern.
"November has been a solid month for production demonstrating the potential for the Company in the very near term. Our grades and volumes are continuing to improve and consequently the price we are receiving for the product is increasing. We are very excited about the working relationship with our partners who are assisting our production efforts at every turn."
For further information please visit www.stratminglobal.com or contact:
StratMin Global Resources Plc | +44 (0) 20 3691 6160 |
Manoli Yannaghas (Managing Director) | |
Strand Hanson (Nomad & Financial Adviser) James Spinney / Ritchie Balmer | +44 (0) 20 7409 3494 |
Hume Capital Securities Plc (Sole Broker) | +44 (0) 20 3693 1470 |
Jon Belliss / Abigail Wayne | |
Blytheweigh (Financial PR) Tim Blythe / Halimah Hussain / Camilla Horsfall | +44 (0) 20 7138 3204 |
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