RNS18 Feb 2021 07:14
Start of Stage II Exploration & Drilling Programme
Thu, 18th Feb 2021 07:00
RNS Number : 4961P
Tirupati Graphite PLC
18 February 2021
18 February 2021
Tirupati Graphite plc ('Tirupati' or the 'Company')
Commencement of Second Stage Exploration and Drilling Programmes at Vatomina and Sahamamy Projects, Madagascar & Appointment of SRK Consultants
Tirupati Graphite plc, the fully integrated, revenue generating, specialist graphite producer and graphene developer with operations in Madagascar and India, is pleased to announce the commencement of its Stage II exploration and drilling programme ('Stage II Programme') across its primary flake graphite projects in Madagascar. The Company is also pleased to announce that SRK Mining Services (India) Private Limited ('SRK') will oversee the Company's Stage II Programme and update and upgrade its current Mineral Resource Statement ('MRS') for the Vatomina and Sahamamy Projects in Madagascar under the current Competent Person's Report, which was contained in the Company's listing prospectus. SRK is a consulting practice of international mining consultants SRK Consulting.
Stage II Programme Highlights
· Commencement of Stage II exploration and drilling programme;
· Stage II Programme to target enhancing global resource base by:
o increasing geological confidence in areas currently categorised as Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources, and;
o establishing additional Mineral Resources in areas previously identified by SRK as Exploration Targets and open extensions.
· Across Vatomina and Sahamamy Projects over a period of six months, the Stage II Programme will include:
o c.10,000 metres of auger drilling;
o c.1,000 metres of trenching, and;
o c.5,000 metres of diamond core drilling.
Mineral Resource Update Overview
· Tirupati and SRK to undertake a Resource Definition Exploration Programme to culminate in;
o an updated geological model;
o updated Mineral Resource Estimates, and;
o an updated Mineral Resource Statement ('MRS') in accordance with JORC Code (2012)1
· The Company is targeting an MRS update that will be followed by multi-disciplinary studies on;
o mining, geotechnical, hydrogeological, processing and infrastructure, and;
o economic, marketing, legal and Environmental & Social Governance ('ESG') factors.
· Tirupati aims to update the current SRK CPR, published in June 2020, later this year and which was contained in the Company's listing prospectus.
1. The Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves, 2012 Edition
Shishir Poddar, CEO of Tirupati Graphite, said, "In line with our rigorous step by step strategy, we continue to multitask work programmes and progress the development timelines of our primary flake graphite projects in Madagascar in a cost effective and time efficient manner across our portfolio. Through engaging SRK to oversee the imp