Keras begins trucking ore from Nayega testwork programme

Mineral resource company Keras Resources has commenced the trucking of processed ore from its 10,000-tonne bulk sampling metallurgical testwork programme at the Nayega Manganese Project in northern Togo, it announced on Wednesday.

The AIM-traded firm said the news demonstrated its progression into the next stage of development at Nayega.

It confirmed trucked ore was now being stockpiled at a secure site adjacent to the deep-water port of Lomé.

Steady-state production levels of 230 saleable tonnes per day were achieved through the recently-commissioned scrubber plant, with four shifts now operating 24 hours per day, seven days a week.

Peak haulage of 12 trucks or 420 tonnes per day was expected to be reached by 31 January, with installed capacity to produce around 6,500 tonnes per month of 35% manganese ore at Nayega.

“I am delighted to announce that the trucking of processed ore at Nayega began at the weekend, with peak haulage of 12 trucks or 420 tonnes per day expected by 31 January,” said Keras Resources chief executive officer Russell Lamming.

“Currently, the ore is being stockpiled at a secure site close to the Lomé deep-water port in Togo and will be transferred to the bulk material wharf when shipping commences in late February 2019.

“In addition, the scrubber plant has now reached the steady-state production of 230 saleable tonnes per day, operating in four shifts, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

Lamming said the continued success of the bulk sampling programme had underpinned the “significant value” that it attributed to Nayega, with the board saying it believed the project would form the cornerstone of its manganese business moving forward.

“The company has had an exciting start to the year with pivotal news already released and hopefully more good news on the horizon.

“We look forward to providing further updates on our progress at the operation.”