Mike Elliott

Non-Executive Chairman at Walkabout Resources. Retired Global Mining & Metals Leader at EY with 36yrs experience advising the industry. All opinions are my own

[Mike Elliott @MikeonMining]

Last weekend #LindiJumbo had its first decent rains since April. This is probably the beginning of the wet season & hence should provide more process water from rainfall harvesting at the TSF. #graphite ore feed rates are likely to be increased.
@WalkaboutRes

[Mike Elliott @MikeonMining]

With the recent improvements in port efficiency & accelerated logistics, the 3rd export of #LindiJumbo #graphite this month has departed 2 days early. Another ship is due to be loaded on Friday & a 5th early next week.
@WalkaboutRes

[Mike Elliott @MikeonMining]

Sampling of each bag of #graphite product is demonstrating that improvements to the set up of the Rotex screens has increased screening efficiency at #LindiJumbo. Much fewer bags are having to be sold as "unsorted" product.
@WalkaboutRes

[Mike Elliott @MikeonMining]

DYK that expanded #graphite is used in lead acid batteries - not just Li ion. It reduces the formation of lead sulphate on negative plates, avoiding a drop in charge capacity. It improves dynamic charge acceptance & enhances cycle life.
@WalkaboutRes #LindiJumbo

[Mike Elliott @MikeonMining]

A heads of department meeting at #LindiJumbo. Most of our department heads are Tanzanian nationals.
@WalkaboutRes #graphite

[Mike Elliott @MikeonMining]

Planning the clean up of the backend building during the September shutdown at #LindiJumbo to remove the #graphite dust. Most was returned for processing into product.
@WalkaboutRes

[Mike Elliott @MikeonMining]

The problem we had of fugative #graphite dust emissions prior to the September shutdown. As great conductor of electricity, this dust would get into electrical components & cause them to short out. Fully fixed in the shutdown & #LindiJumbo is running well.
@WalkaboutRes

[Mike Elliott @MikeonMining]

#LindiJumbo is awaiting the loading of 150t of #graphite onto the Maersk Phuket expected tomorrow. Our customers & mine cashflow will now benefit from the reduction in shipping delays. The next ship is due to be loaded on the 12th.
@WalkaboutRes

[Mike Elliott @MikeonMining]

@k_kaisi @WalkaboutRes Getting more container traffic through Mtwara would be a good start.

[Mike Elliott @MikeonMining]

#LindiJumbo is awaiting the loading of 500t of #graphite onto the Hong Da Xin 768 expected tomorrow. This will be the first product that has been able to be loaded since very early September due to logistical & port delays. 5 other ships are booked for November.
@WalkaboutRes

[Mike Elliott @MikeonMining]

September #graphite production at #LindiJumbo was impacted by the planned shutdown (6 days), further unplanned stopages & constrained feed rate due to water limitations. However, still managed a respectable 3.7t of production per hour of operation at ave 93% TGC & >90% recovery

[Mike Elliott @MikeonMining]

From SYR quarterly
Global coarse flake demand strengthened even further with limited apparent availability from Chinese exports & other suppliers.

Syrah’s coarse flake availability for sales later in the quarter were constrained by depleted inventory & no production campaigns.”

[Mike Elliott @MikeonMining]

During September, #LindiJumbo mined >16Kt of #graphite ore at an average grade of 17.61% TGC. We continue to get large uplifts in contained graphite from the reserve block model! Mining at a strip ratio of 2:1
@WalkaboutRes

[Mike Elliott @MikeonMining]

The engineering team at #LindiJumbo continue to derisk the plant, problem solve as well as plan efficiency & safety modifications. They seek to safely maximise plant availability to optimise its #graphite production.
@WalkaboutRes

[Mike Elliott @MikeonMining]

Despite water constraints, #LindiJumbo mill feed rate of #graphite ore ramped up from ~22tph (Aug) to 32tph (Sept). Target still remains an average of 45tph. Increased feed rate also makes for reduced grind & optimises overall coarse particle size distribution.
@WalkaboutRes

[Mike Elliott @MikeonMining]

#LindiJumbo is rightfully proud of its safety performance. We don't take that for granted & our people take regular drills to keep it front of mind. @WalkaboutRes #graphite

[Mike Elliott @MikeonMining]

With relatively stable flotation processing at #LindiJumbo it is good to see that most reagents & consumerables are being used at their target quantities or below. The #graphite both mines & is liberated as or better than expected.
@WalkaboutRes

[Mike Elliott @MikeonMining]

Simple mods such as the Rotex Screen feed bins were modified & the distributors lifted to increase the angles of the feed. This change by #LindiJumbo staff in Oct, immediately distributed #graphite flake more evenly to the 2 series of screens & improved efficiency.
@WalkaboutRes

[Mike Elliott @MikeonMining]

Operational changes to the way #graphite concentrate has been fed to the Rotex screens has improved screening efficiency at #LindiJumbo. This has resulted in less bags failing the >80% size fraction test during October. A positive for average realised prices.
@WalkaboutRes

[Mike Elliott @MikeonMining]

When a bag of #LindiJumbo #graphite fails its lab test for >80% at the size fraction it must be reintroduced to the sorting section or sold as unsorted product. Both have been occuring at times, depending on then throughput. Ops team are reducing this inefficiency.
@WalkaboutRes