Blencowe Resources Plc announced that additional metallurgical test work on its Orom-Cross graphite project in Uganda has now been completed by leading graphite technical specialist laboratory, Jilin New Technology ("Jilin") based at Yanji in Northern China, following recent update on 14 August 2023. This metallurgical test work is critical to understanding the commercial scale process plant components, the quality of the end-product that Orom-Cross can deliver as a high-grade graphite concentrate as well as the flake sizing yield, and the operability of a process plant at Orom-Cross. The 100t bulk sample also provides significantly greater quantum of end product for end user testing which is critical for the Definitive Feasibility Study.

Blencowe commissioned Jilin New Technology in partnership with Wuhan University to undertake metallurgical test work on a 100t bulk sample which covered material from both the Northern Syncline and Camp Lode areas within Orom-Cross. The pilot plant program was designed to deliver the following objectives: Confirm the commercial scale viability of processing the Orom-Cross ores. Confirm a 95-97% TGC (Total Graphite Content) pure concentrate is possible with low impurities (in particular thorium and vanadium).

Confirm the laboratory testing models. Confirm the liberation process in order to maintain a majority of Jumbo/XL/Large flakes within the concentrate. Confirm the process flow diagram for the pilot plant design as part of the Definitive Feasibility Study.

Deliver significant quantum of bulk concentrate to allow Blencowe to initiate discussions with potential off-take partners. The optimisation of the process (on the basis of the previous laboratory testing) has been very successful with the pilot plant methodology further improved and able to deliver a shorter overall processing of the ore, whilst improving the metrics of the concentrate delivered. A shorter processing cycle has the benefits of lower capital expenditure and lower operating costs, both of which will enhance the overall Orom-Cross project financials.

The streamlined processing design has also realised increased recoveries of the more valuable larger +50mesh flake from 6.5% to 9.5% yield (within overall basket of end products), whilst increasing overall large flake yield by approximately 2% and increasing overall concentrate recoveries to over 94%. Again, this will add further value to the project financials. The additional metallurgical test work to date shows a robust flowsheet capable of repeatable metallurgy for a wide range of feed samples from Orom-Cross, which will now be used directly for reference in the actual concentrator engineering design for the Definitive Feasibility Study.