Mozambique graphite production is set to grow 128.6% in 2022, according to Government estimations, due to the growing demand for this mineral in the international market.
After major graphite miners in the country reduced activity because of lower demand after the beggining of the covid-19 pandemic, activities are under resumption more recently. The Government expects production to more than double, according to Mozambican newspaper Diario Economico.
Mozambique is one of the world’s major emerging sources of graphite concentrate, including Sydney-based Syrah Resources’ Balama project, which is the world’s largest integrated natural graphite mining and processing operation.
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The Balama mine restarted in March last year, after an interruption in 2020 caused by the covid-19 pandemic, which led to a 65% reduction in the workforce. This mine has a production expectation of 50 years and the concession covers an area of 106 square kilometers.
Graphite developer Triton Minerals will supply graphite concentrate from its Ancuabe project in Mozambique to China’s Yichang Xinchang Graphite (YXGC), according to an agreement signed in late 2021.
Yichang-based YXGC is one of the world’s largest producers of expandable graphite, as well as a wide range of other graphite products, and is also a battery anode manufacturer. It distributes within China and to more than 20 export markets.
