Sovereign Metals appoints graphite expert to advance development of Kasiya

Sovereign Metals appoints graphite expert Dr Surinder Ghag as chief technology officer
He will design and deliver graphite downstream test work programs
Programs will align with graphite product development and qualification

Special Report: Sovereign Metals has strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of graphite and battery anode specialist consultant Dr Surinder Ghag as its chief technology officer for graphite.

His appointment comes as Sovereign Metals (ASX:SVM) continues to progress development of Kasiya – the world’s largest rutile deposit and second largest flake graphite deposit with a resource of 1.8 billion tonnes grading 1% rutile and 1.4% graphite.

The project is the subject of a pre-feasibility study that outlined its potential to produce 222,000tpa of rutile and 244,000tpa of natural graphite across a 25-year mine life.

This also estimated costs that sit right at the bottom of the cost curve, which could go a long way towards explaining Rio Tinto’s (ASX:RIO) move to acquire a 15% stake in the company mid last year.

Nor is SVM content with the status quo with the company starting auger drilling late last month to grow the Kasiya resource by drilling regional targets north and south of the main deposit.

Graphite expert

Dr Ghag is an expert metallurgist with 25 years of experience across critical minerals including graphite and rutile.

His experience includes developing graphite test work programs, ore-to-anode graphite strategies, anode plant feasibility studies, and project development and commissioning.

Recently, he was instrumental in developing an environmentally friendly and commercially viable method for purifying graphite alongside Australian science agency CISRO.

Dr Ghag will be responsible for designing and delivering graphite downstream test work programs to be aligned with graphite product development and qualification as Sovereign continues discussions with battery anode processors, end-users, and potential future offtake partners.

“I am pleased to welcome Dr Ghag as we continue to strengthen our owner’s team in preparation for project execution,” managing director Frank Eagar said.

“Kasiya will deliver the world’s lowest cost, lowest carbon footprint graphite.

“Dr Ghag joining Sovereign will significantly enhance our graphite metallurgical expertise and understanding of the downstream market to translate Kasiya’s bottom-of-the-cost curve advantage into significant active anode market capture.”

This article was developed in collaboration with Sovereign Minerals, 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.