Ecograf Review Shows Tanzania’s Epanko Graphite Project Will Boost Output Up by 20%
Posted on : Thursday , 1st October 2026
A technical evaluation of EcoGraf Limited's Epanko Graphite Project in Tanzania indicates that initial annual production could scale up by 20% to reach 87,600 tonnes, while simultaneously lowering operating expenses by as much as 6.8%. A September 2026 Value Engineering Review performed by METC-PaulSam JV confirmed that this capacity expansion can be achieved using the existing layout from the February 2026 Updated Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS), requiring only an additional USD 12.0 million in upfront capital expenditure. This added cost is fully covered by the project's established USD 22 million contingency allowance. While the original 73,000-tonne-per-annum BFS remains the official baseline for project debt financing, formal approval of the enhanced output target will be finalized following a Final Investment Decision (FID). To advance engineering studies for this expanded footprint to bankable status, the European Investment Bank (EIB) is granting up to EUR 2 million (AUD 3.2 million) in technical assistance funds. The higher supply volume is structured to feed a proposed 25,000-tonne-per-annum hydrofluoric-acid-free Battery Anode Material (BAM) facility, aligning with EcoGraf's broader international processing strategy and a key purification agreement signed with Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation.
The engineering assessment reveals that approximately 44% of the site’s primary equipment—such as the crushing, grinding, and flotation circuits—possesses sufficient built-in design margin to manage higher throughput with minimal modification. Key plant upgrades will involve modular additions to flotation capacity, improved screening systems, and optimized concentrate filtration and drying setups. Mine life will adjust from 22 years to 20 years, supported entirely by the current Ore Reserves of 16.7 million tonnes grading 8.2% total graphitic carbon, without relying on inferred resources. From a financial perspective, life-of-mine C1 operating costs are projected to fall to USD 515.9 per tonne, while initial ten-year C1 costs will drop to USD 512.3 per tonne—reflecting savings of 6.8% and 5.8% respectively. All-in sustaining costs (AISC) are similarly estimated to decrease to USD 615.4 per tonne over the life of the mine. Managed by Duma TanzGraphite—an 84/16 joint venture between EcoGraf and the Tanzanian government—the asset sits on an expanded 18.9-square-kilometer Special Mining Licence. It is backed by a massive total resource estimate of 290.8 million tonnes alongside established commercial agreements with international partners including ThyssenKrupp AG and Sojitz Corporation.
