Giyani Metals Corp. (TSXV:EMM, GR:A2DUU8), the developer of the K.Hill Battery-Grade Manganese Project in Botswana, has provided an update on the commissioning of its Demonstration Plant (Demo Plant) located in Johannesburg, South Africa. The plant, designed to produce high-purity manganese sulfate monohydrate (HPMSM) for electric vehicle (EV) batteries, is nearing completion despite recent setbacks.
The company initially aimed for first production by the end of December 2024, but operational delays linked to unforeseen disruptions—namely, a power outage, water supply issues, and slower-than-expected progress in control system commissioning—have shifted the timeline to early Q1 2025.
Setbacks Impact Commissioning Schedule
On December 11, an incident of vandalism and copper cable theft at an Eskom substation triggered a power outage in Krugersdorp, the area where the Demo Plant operates. The outage disrupted local water supply systems, leaving the Demo Plant without access to water from December 12 to December 17. The commissioning process, which relies heavily on water for crystallization and steam generation, was temporarily halted. 
While power was restored within 24 hours, water supply issues lingered, affecting multiple industrial and residential areas simultaneously. Giyani’s operations team flushed and cleaned the Demo Plant’s crystallizers as soon as water service resumed on December 17, allowing commissioning activities to resume under a 24-hour recovery protocol.
These disruptions, coupled with slower progress in control system testing, have impacted the plant’s readiness. Despite this, the company reports that full utilities, including water and power, are now restored, and commissioning activities are advancing toward the final production phase.
Strategic Importance of the Demo Plant
The Demo Plant serves as a scaled-down, pre-commercial version of Giyani’s planned Commercial Facility, which will be constructed in Botswana adjacent to the company’s manganese oxide ore sources. The Demo Plant is designed at a 1:10 scale to simulate and refine the full production process. For example, leach tanks in the Demo Plant have a 60 cm diameter, compared to the expected 5-meter tanks in the Commercial Facility.
Giyani’s CEO, Charles FitzRoy, noted that the lessons learned during the Demo Plant’s commissioning process will directly inform the design and operation of the Commercial Facility. “Fine-tuning the process now will yield operational and cost efficiencies when we transition to full-scale production. The Demo Plant significantly reduces risks for the final project,” FitzRoy said.
He also expressed confidence in the team’s ability to deliver consistent, battery-grade manganese. “The Demo Plant provides a critical foundation for engaging potential offtake partners by demonstrating Giyani’s capability to produce high-purity manganese on a steady, continuous basis. It positions us as a leading supplier to the EV market.”
Commissioning Progress and Next Steps
The Demo Plant is constructed in nine modular units, with some modules already in the hot commissioning phase (C4). Other areas have completed mechanical, dry, and cold commissioning (C1 through C3). The final stage, involving full reagent testing and steam generation, is now imminent with the delivery of initial reagents expected soon.
Key commissioning milestones include:
- Completion of filtration systems for solid-liquid separation.
- Pre-emptive hot commissioning of crystallizers to identify process improvements.
- The near-operational readiness of the onsite laboratory, which will ensure rapid assay turnaround and reliable metal accounting during production ramp-up.
The company also continues metallurgical testing to optimize the process flowsheet, with a focus on reducing reagent use and improving both operating costs and the project’s carbon footprint.
Production Timeline and Offtake Agreements
The company expects to commence steady-state production from the Demo Plant early in Q1 2025. Product samples will be sent to potential offtake partners for qualification trials, laying the groundwork for indicative terms later in the year.
The production data from the Demo Plant will allow Giyani to de-risk its Commercial Facility by providing critical insights into operational performance and process scalability. This approach also ensures the availability of standardized operating procedures (SOPs) and laboratory methods ahead of the Commercial Plant’s construction, streamlining the transition to full-scale production.
Giyani Metals aims to establish itself as a leading western producer of sustainable, low-carbon, battery-grade manganese for the EV industry. Its proprietary hydrometallurgical process for HPMSM production places it in a strong position to meet growing demand for critical battery materials.
The K.Hill Project in Botswana is central to this strategy, with plans to begin construction of the Commercial Facility following the successful operation of the Demo Plant and the completion of a Definitive Feasibility Study in 2025.
With $26 million in secured financing from ARCH Sustainable Resources Fund LP and the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa, Giyani is advancing steadily toward its goal of becoming a key supplier for the clean energy transition.
