Otjiwarongo graphite project progressing

Gecko Mining looks to become Namibia’s second potential graphite producer. Little is known about the graphite despite Gecko maintaining that planning is in the public sphere surrounding its Okanjande graphite project, situated 14 kilometres south of the town of Otjiwarongo.
Availing as little as he could, Director-Geology, Oliver Krappman was off the opinion that planning centred around the project was out in the public domain and added that since the project was advancing, he felt that media attention was perhaps not necessary.
He said, “Specialist reports have been concluded. A final report is almost done. The planning of the Okanjande Project is out in the public domain. We do not need the hoo-ha since the development is going ahead anyway.”
The details surrounding the project remain tightly under wraps with Krappman giving indications that the executive management was controlling information tightly that would be availed to the media. Krappman however added that Gecko had placed notifications surrounding the project in the printed press and said that five public feedback meetings were held and stated that they were poorly attended. According to Gecko, it has secured all mining rights. A bankable feasibility study is being initiated. At the time of going to press, Gecko did not comment on issues surrounding the progress of its attempt to update its Environmental Impact Assessment which it is in the process of updating. According to Gecko, an Environmental Impact Assessment and a detailed feasibility study was conducted during the 1990s.
Work done on the site has indicated the possibility to mine 25 million tonnes of graphite with a grade of 5.65% with process recovery of at least 85%. Gecko anticipates a production of 20 000 tonnes of graphite per annum. Annually, 398,400 tonnes of ore will be processed.