Image: International Graphite.
International Graphite’s chief executive admitted any Europe-bound product from the Springdale mine near Hopetoun would probably go through Fremantle rather than Esperance.
The product is to be shipped in containers.
“It will all come down to the regularity of traffic through the port from a container and concentrate perspective,” he said.
Esperance Port has been used to despatch containers in the past.
Andrew Worland said the proposed new facility, at Bitterfeld about 100km south of Berlin, could process about 3,000 tonnes of Springdale graphite.
“If we were to produce 40,000 tonnes on the mine site a small proportion could be directed to this facility,” he said.
“In terms of making Springdale a better operation, we can point to the partners who bring a significant financial capability and experience in graphite.
“It does require you to assemble quite a bit of industry knowledge and intellectual property and we think these groups will impart that.”
When fully operational Mr Worland said Springdale should employ 30 to 40 people on the mine site.
