Gecko keeps graphite lid shut''No comment'' Little to nothing is known locally about what could be an exciting graphite project. Although it had at one point submitted an application for the development of its Okanjande graphite resource, Gecko Mining has not been particularly forthcoming about the development of its graphite deposit, in stark contrast to graphite-related activities witnessed in the south, driven by Canadian company Next Graphite.When contacted last week, Gecko Mining was not willing to update Namibian Sun about the planned development of its Okanjande project. Its executive for investor relations, Martha Ruider, simply stated: “Unfortunately, Gecko will not share any information regarding the graphite and phosphate mining at this stage.”
Ruider further refused to comment on contracts with any potential graphite customers, while also shielding questions about the financing of its graphite-related activities. In a submission for an impact assessment study prepared by Enviro Dynamics, Gecko previously stated: “Gecko Graphite has recognised the high demand for quality graphite worldwide and has obtained the mineral rights over the Okanjande deposit. In recent years Gecko Graphite has however recognised the new high demand for quality graphite worldwide.”
Graphite is a naturally occurring form of crystalline carbon and is regarded as an essential commodity used in refractories, brake linings, foundry operations, lubricants, batteries and pencils.
Gecko in 2014 toyed with the idea of beneficiation in its graphite project. It motivated in its Socio-Economic Impact Assessment report in 2014: “During the second phase of the project it is envisaged to add value by upgrading a portion of the graphite concentrate to a high-purity product through a process of leaching. Other value adding possibilities include the manufacturing of semi-finished products like sheet and exfoliated graphite, expandable graphite and the production of specialized graphite size fractions.”