According to Sarytogan, the global market for nuclear graphite is currently about 60,000 tonnes per annum and is set to grow with the renewed worldwide investment in nuclear power. Graphite used as nuclear moderators sells at prices of higher than US$25,000 (AU$38,310) per tonne – a significant premium to the graphite used in lithium-ion batteries.

In the space of just 18 months, the company has delivered a high-grade mineral resource at its Kazakhstan project of 229 million tonnes at an incredible 28.9 per cent total graphitic content (TGC).

Drilling results received early last year confirmed the near-surface nature of the deposit, with assays of 26.8m grading a heady 30.4 per cent TGC right from surface – and that hole ended in mineralisation. Additional wide, shallow results show 47.6m at 31.3 per cent TGC, also from surface, including 13.9m going 40.2 per cent TGC, in addition to a 6.8m hit grading 37 per cent in the same hole.

The company is looking to build a purification and spheroidization plant that will process its own mined product and it is investigating options to acquire industrial land in Karaganda, 190km from the project. Management says that location comes replete with access to low-cost power, water, rail terminals and a skilled workforce and has all of the industrial amenities of a major city.

Importantly, some of those options also offer favourable tax incentives from the Kazakhstan Government.

Sarytogan says the addition of nuclear applications adds another layer to its economic product strategy to place as many units of carbon into as many markets as possible.

Management expects to deliver its prefeasibility study for the project no later than this year’s third quarter.

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