Kibaran Resources Limited (ASX:KNL), (‘Kibaran’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce that its Mining Licence for the Epanko Graphite Project has been granted by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals of Tanzania. The licence was signed by the Minister of Energy and Minerals, Honourable George Simbachawene (MP) on 13 July 2015 and was the remaining major milestone for the Company in terms of Government permitting for the project.
The Mining Licence allows extraction and processing of graphite, covers an area of 9.49 square kilometres and is for a period of 10 years, the maximum period under Tanzanian legislation but renewable for subsequent 10 year periods.
The licence encapsulates all mineralized zones, including those areas where additional resources are expected to be defined and supports the Company’s previously reported (ASX 19 January 2015) planned production growth strategy from 40,000tpa to 100,000tpa.
Kibaran’s Executive Director – Projects, Grant Pierce commented:
“Granting of the Mining Licence de-risks the Epanko Graphite Project and places Kibaran in a prime position to be both the first graphite producer in Tanzania since Samax’s Graphtan Mine at Merelani commenced production in 1995 and to be one of the first companies into production amongst its listed peer group. Being first into production brings with it some unique, one off opportunities which are extremely significant on a number of strategic and commercial fronts and Kibaran has been focusing on its preparedness to take advantage of them over recent months.”
For further information on Kibaran, please visit our website www.kibaranresources.com or contact:
Company Secretary
Robert Hodby
Kibaran Resources
P: + 61 8 6380 1003
E: [email protected]