Black Rock Mining announced it has completed the resettlement action plan (RAP) process for its Mahenge graphite project in Tanzania, a typically mandated condition precedent for debt funding and mining licences.
The company today confirmed its Tanzanian based consultant has finalised field activities for the process, which is expected to facilitate continued progress on financing the project.
The news follows Black Rock’s announcement at the start of the month that it is about to start negotiations relating to the Tanzanian government’s 16% free carried interest in the project.
RAP is a process used to assess land and property values and to support the relocation of people and properties.
Resettlement for Mahenge includes areas associated with the Mdindo, Kisewe, Nawenge and Makanga villages of Tanzania.
Field activities were undertaken by surveyors, valuers, sociologists, data entry and geographic information systems experts and included 148 meetings held with the Mahenge community since December 2019.
Black Rock said at the completion of RAP field activities, it recorded a 98% acceptance rate. The remaining parcels with appeals have been recorded and will complete a resolution process according to International Finance Corporation standards and Tanzanian government legislation.
“Being able to secure a 98% acceptance rate and having 99% of participants willing to voluntarily relocate before arbitration, should be considered as community validation of our project’s social licence to operate,” Black Rock managing director and chief executive officer John de Vries said.
“A successful RAP further differentiates Mahenge’s brand of clean and green graphite, to now include socially responsible graphite,” he added.
Mr de Vries attributed the high acceptance rate to the “thoroughness and diligence” of the company’s management team and consultants.