Gulf Manganese Corporation’s (ASX:GMC) planned manganese smelter in Timor remains a highly attractive project with a redrafted study highlighting EBITDA of US$374.7 million over 10 years with an NPV of US$160.6 million.

n May Ukraine produced 143.6 thousand tons of manganese concentrate and sinter, up by 8.3%, or by 11 thousand tons, MoM.

According to the customs statistics of Brazil, the total export volume of manganese ore in May 2015 was 141,527 tons (material quantity), grossly up by 63.7% from 86,435 tons of the prior month.

Kalagadi Manganese has been exploring for manganese in the Kalahari Basin. The three farms on which the company holds new order mining rights are believed to hold some 960 Mt of manganese ore.

Manganese was first discovered in the late 1700s and has been produced in large quantities since that time, according to Jefferson Lab. The element does not occur in isolation, and is obtained by breaking down other minerals. The most common source of manganes...

The Hotazel Manganese Mines (HMM) of South32 are located in the manganese rich Kalahari Basin in the Northern Cape South Africa. The region is home to 80 per cent of the world’s manganese ore body. (Image courtesy of South32)

Manganese ore exports hit 141,527 tonnes in May, up 63% compared with April and up 5% compared with May 2014. Revenues for May were down year-on-year despite the increase in volumes, due to a 30% drop in manganese ore prices this year.

In April Ukraine imported $20.39 million worth of manganese ore, with exports on the level of $1.38 million. One of the main suppliers of manganese ore to Ukraine in April was Ghana ($8.8 million).