The company recently announced your appointment as the new Chief Executive Officer. Can you give our readers some insight into your background?
I have over 20 years’ experience in business development and corporate financing in the mining industry, including in battery materials projects. I’ve worked in investment banking, private equity, and corporate management, and have raised significant funds for mining projects in various developing nations, especially in southern Africa. I also have strong relationships with a number of battery materials offtakers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
Evolution recently commenced early works at its Chilalo Graphite Project site in Tanzania, marking a significant milestone for the company. Can you talk us through the work completed at the project thus far?
In late 2024, as part of an agreed Resettlement Action Plan (RAP), Evolution Energy Minerals (EV1) was granted full land rights to the proposed mine and plant location, allowing development of the Chilalo area to begin. This development started with the construction of an access road and the pre-clearing of the plant site. The site works will continue through the first half of 2025 in the build-up to a final investment decision (FID) for Chilalo.
The early works are expected to be completed before the end of the year, paving the way for the next stages of development. Can you talk us through the ESG aspects of the development plans – particularly in terms of local communities and stakeholders?
EV1 was created based on the sustainable development of the Chilalo Graphite Project, with community engagement at its core.
The start of site construction was facilitated by the completion of the RAP compensation payments to affected local stakeholders. These RAP payments were calculated in accordance with not only Tanzanian law, but also IFC Standards.
The RAP process is one of a number of ESG and Corporate Social Responsibility programmes being undertaken by EV1’s local subsidiary Kudu Graphite, including support for the construction of a new government-run clinic in the adjacent village of Nangurugai.
During development and operations, EV1’s strategy is to recruit and train locally and procure materials and services from local vendors, wherever possible.
In terms of exploration at Chilalo, Evolution recently identified a copper-lead- zinc prospect called Chikundo. Can you talk us through the exploration strategy, and what the next steps are there?
The discovery of the Chikundo Cu-Pb-Zn VMS prospect is an exciting addition to our portfolio and potentially offers a new exposure into base metals. During 2025, we will be conducting a systematic exploration campaign with the objective of releasing a maiden mineral resource estimate. How we ultimately develop Chikundo will be a decision for later in the year.
All of these things move the project closer towards a final investment decision, which the company is anticipating sometime next year. Are you still on track to reach this milestone?
Bringing Chilalo to FID is our core objective for 2025. As recently announced, not only have early site works commenced, but we have started the Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) process as the precursor to appointing an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor. We anticipate that the EPC process can be completed by Q3 this year, subject to FID.
To round things up, how does Evolution find operating in Tanzania generally?
Tanzania has been an excellent jurisdiction to operate in for EV1, cemented by the signing of our Framework Agreement with the government for the Chilalo project. It is a mining country with a well-established operating environment and regulatory regime and the advantage of multiple export hubs into the Indian Ocean.
The Tanzanian Government is actively upgrading infrastructure including electricity, roads and ports to facilitate increased industrial activity, which is expected to reduce costs for the Chilalo project over time.
Kudu Graphite is a welcomed presence in the area around Chilalo and we are proud to be an active participant in local initiatives, such as assisting in the construction of the new government health clinic.