Giyani Metals, developer of the K.Hill Battery-Grade Manganese Project in Botswana, has started production at its demonstration plant in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The company has developed a hydrometallurgical process to produce battery-grade manganese (HPMSM), a lithium-ion battery cathode precursor material.

The production ramp-up has commenced and the plant is working towards initial production of battery-grade manganese. It materially advanced hot commissioning during January 2025. The first product samples are on track to be produced during the first quarter and then provided to potential off-takers to begin qualification trials.

The demonstration plant, which comprises nine process modules, is designed to identify opportunities and optimize the design of the commercial plant in Botswana, which will be built adjacent to Giyani’s 100%-owned manganese ore sources in Botswana. The demo plant is being built at a 1:10 scale to the planned commercial facility. The laboratory, and all associated procedures and methods, can be transferred directly to the commercial plant.

“The Demo Plant is an essential component in Giyani’s long-term strategy to deliver high-purity battery-grade manganese to the EV market. This production capacity establishes a strong foundation for Giyani to engage with potential off-take partners, as the continuous process flow of the Demo Plant will allow the team to target steady-state operations over extended periods, proving Giyani’s ability to produce consistent battery-grade manganese and satisfy off-take requirements. This continuous operation at pre-commercial scale also provides critical information for understanding how the Commercial Plant will respond,” said Charles FitzRoy, President and CEO of the company.

Source: Giyani