[Ferro-Alloys.com] UK- and South Africa-listed battery metals miner Marula Mining has reported average grades of 35.73% from manganese samples taken from the Larisoro manganese mine, in Kenya.

The company garnered 18 samples from stockpiled material which will soon be railed to the Port of Mombasa for export.

Some of the assays returned grades of 39.25%, 39.13%, 38.60%, 37.69% and 37.56% manganese from testing at trading group Fujax UK’s laboratories in Mombasa – which is a potential offtaker.

Marula is undertaking testing and prequalification of samples ahead of signing long-term offtake agreements for sales of manganese ore into international markets.

The company says the assay results are consistent with historical results from the Larisoro mine and support plans to produce a 37% manganese saleable product from the site.

Marula continues to invest in exploration and new processing activities at the mine, in terms of an agreement with Kenyan company Gems and Industrial Minerals. Marula aims to increase monthly manganese ore production from Larisoro to between 5 000 t/y and 10 000 t/y of high-grade manganese ore by September 30.

The company aims to sign more formal documentation with Gems, including a technical support agreement, in June.

“With manganese references prices trading near four-year highs, our ability to deliver material now from the Larisoro manganese mine puts us in a strong position as we look at expanding production levels further,” says CEO Jason Brewer

• [Editor:tianyawei]