Ceylon Graphite is a public company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (CYL:TSX-V) involved in the exploration and production of graphite in historic resource jurisdictions in Sri Lanka. It holds a land package constituting 121 km² grids containing historic vein graphite deposits. These unique and comparatively higher margin vein (lump) deposits currently make up less than 1% of the world graphite production. These exploration grids represent the majority of known historic graphite resources in Sri Lanka. The relevant areas in which these grids reside have previously had historical production dating back to the 1920s and 1930s.
Sri Lanka is the only area that produces commercial quantities of Vein graphite, which is also known by the names Ceylon graphite, Sri Lankan graphite, Plumbago and crystalline vein. As Sri Lanka’s premier graphite company, we aim to help the country tap this top resource as Sri Lanka has the highest quality of vein graphite which is believed to be formed by hydrothermal fluids. It is said that graphite has been used locally as far back as the middle of the 1600s.
We currently have four graphite exploration sites where some have already commenced drilling and others to be commenced soon. Our graphite company has a 121 square kilometre land package in Sri Lanka, with each of the four above mentioned four sites promising different levels of production, all of which is thoroughly exciting for the future of both the Ceylon graphite company and the Sri Lankan graphite industry as a whole.
Graphite on its own may not seem very excite-worthy, as it is mostly associated with pencils and lubricants. However, today graphite has become a very important component for modern requirements such as lithium-ion batteries. It is one of the fastest growing uses of graphite as so far, no substitutes have been found. Graphite is widely used in most consumer electronics such as mobile phones, laptops, tablets and media players. Our aim to supply premium quality vein graphite to industries enabling the creating of high value products and creating employment via the mining operations.
As a premier graphite company in Sri Lanka we take immense pride in being named the Asia Pacific Exploration Mining Company of the Year 2018, by peers in the Asian mining community and a panel of expert judges. It is in recognition of the extensive exploration work we have carried out in Sri Lanka over the past year. It also recognizes the hard work put in by our invaluable employees. Such acknowledgement encourages us to do more and accelerate our efforts to develop our mining properties with the lowest cost.
There are numerous theories regarding the origins of vein graphite while its name refers to the fact that it is a ‘true vein mineral’ found in veins and fissures in ore rock. This is why Sri Lankan graphite is one of the purest form of graphite to be found commercially. Thanks to this purity vein graphite milling and refining costs are kept low.
Our aim is to continue our innovative mining work to ensure that Sri Lanka benefits from this valuable mineral that is so essential in today’s modern world. It is a key element in electrodes, batteries, and solar panels, hence the increase in global graphite prices. Sri Lanka needs to enjoy the benefits of this increasing global demand, which is why we were thrilled last year, when the graphite obtained from our K1 site was certified by Dorfner ANZAPLAN as upgradeable and meeting with the specifications of marketable battery grade graphite. It puts us on the path to becoming a relevant player in the graphite market.