Renascor Resources has electrical network upgraded for Siviour graphite mine

• Capital works have been completed at Cleve substation to meet electrical requirements for Siviour phase one mining
• Work includes installation of new 33kV transformer and augmentation of overhead power lines
• Program focused on engineering, procurement and infrastructure work to de-risk and minimise construction period

Special Report: Renascor Resources continues to progress its proposed Siviour graphite mine and processing plant in South Australia with the electrical distribution network upgraded.

Upgrades include the installation of a new 33 kilovolt (kV) transformer and circuit breakers at SA Power Network’s Cleve substation about 25km from the proposed Siviour mine – the upstream portion of the Battery Anode Material (BAM) project.

Additional work includes augmentation of the overhead powerline network to increase the system capacity to 33kV, installation of new voltage regulators and a new connection point for Siviour.

The upgraded substation and overhead powerline have been successfully tested and commissioned by SA Power Networks.

These upgrades are expected to permit Renascor Resources (ASX:RNU) to meet the majority of its planned Siviour phase one mine electricity requirements.

“The completion by SA Power Networks of the upgrades to the electricity distribution network is an important milestone in advancing the BAM project,” managing director David Christensen said.

“The grid connection will not only result in cost savings in power generation, but Siviour will also benefit from a lower carbon footprint, reduced maintenance costs and increased efficiency and productivity.”

Siviour project

RNU’s shovel-ready Siviour project has Australia’s second-largest graphite resource of 123.6Mt at 6.9% total graphitic carbon for 8.65Mt of contained graphite and the largest reserve outside Africa at 61.8Mt at 7% TGC, or 4.3Mt contained graphite.

It has a post-tax net present value of $1.5 billion and is expected to be one of the world’s lowest cost projects with costs of US$405/t of graphite concentrate in the first 10 years.

RNU is advancing optimisation studies and is looking to commission a purified spherical graphite (PSG) demonstration plant later this year.

The company has already secured a $5m Federal grant to co-fund the demonstration plant and a $185 million conditional loan from the Critical Minerals Facility.

In 2024 it entered into a connection agreement with SA Power Networks to upgrade the existing electrical distribution network.

This provided for the upgrade of the substation in Cleve as well as upgrades to the overhead powerline network between the substation and Siviour.

Completion of this upgrade allows Cleve substation to supply the majority of electrical requirements for phase one production with supplementary power to be supplied from solar photovoltaic arrays and on-site diesel generation.

Next steps

RNU’s work programs on the planned upstream mining and processing operation are focused on engineering, procurement and infrastructure work to further de-risk and minimise the project’s construction period.

This includes assessing early contractor involvement submissions to select the preferred contractor and advance towards the engineering, procurement and construction stage, complete detailed designs of non-process infrastructure for the mine site, optimise water supply and management, and develop the accommodation camp for the construction and operation phases.

The company is also advancing its planned downstream purified spherical graphite demonstration facility with long-lead equipment already ordered and commissioning of the water treatment circuit planned for next quarter.

Pending timely receipt of equipment from overseas suppliers, it expects full-scale commissioning to occur in Q4 2025.

Processing of a ~730t bulk sample of graphite ore from the Siviour deposit into a graphite concentrate is also being completed at a commercial graphite facility in China.

This will be used as feedstock for the PSG demonstration facility.

Impact assessment for the planned commercial-scale PSG facility in Bolivar, South Australia, is well-advanced with the company having lodged its final response with the state government’s Department for Housing and Urban Development.

Pending a favourable determination, development approval would allow RNU to construct and operate a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility to produce up to 100,000tpa of PSG for use in lithium-ion battery anodes.

Watch: Renascor moves closer to major Aussie graphite mine

This article was developed in collaboration with Renascor Resources, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing. 

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.