Betolar has partnered with the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) and EcoGraf, an Australian company, to explore the potential use of mine tailings from the Epanko graphite project in Tanzania.
The companies aim to use Betolar’s metal extraction technology to recover metals from these tailings, while simultaneously producing a low-carbon circular cement.
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The partnership stems from a memorandum of understanding (MoU), which aims to evaluate the commercial and technical feasibility of using the graphite project’s tailings within circular economy material solutions.
EcoGraf is advancing the TanzGraphite natural flake graphite initiative with the Epanko Graphite Project.
This development aims to supply feedstock for EcoGraf battery anode material processing facilities and provide high-quality, large-flake graphite for industrial applications.
The company expects to generate approximately 900,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of tailings over the first decade of operations at Epanko.
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By GlobalDataIn collaboration with Betolar, the partnership will investigate if these mine tailings can be effectively processed through metal extraction technology, and whether the resulting low-carbon cement could replace traditional binders in construction.
Betolar’s metal extraction technology has demonstrated recovery rates of up to 99% for critical metals during pilot projects.
This process also results in the production of low-carbon cement, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional options and contributing to emission reductions in the construction sector, aligning with global climate objectives.
The collaboration between Betolar, EcoGraf and GTK transforms mine tailings into valuable resources for both metal recovery and sustainable construction material production.
This initiative propels the transition towards a circular economy in the mining and construction industries by converting significant sidestreams into value-added products.
The project aligns with the EU’s and Finland’s circular economy and resource efficiency goals.
Betolar EVP mining and metals Jyri Talja said: “Entering this cooperation is a great step for Betolar as we explore together how our new metal extraction technology can transform mine tailings from waste into new value. It also highlights the growing interest in sustainable mining practices globally, including in Africa.”
