Site visit: Permanent Minerals highlights Africa’s growing flake graphite role
Africa is the leading source of new flake graphite supply outside China. To assess developments on the ground, Benchmark’s China graphite analyst, Frank Li, recently travelled to Permanent Minerals, a Chinese-owned graphite mine and processing plant in Manyara province, Tanzania.
The company’s natural graphite output is large flake and contains a carbon content of 95%–98% and is currently one of the highest-grade flake graphite mining areas discovered in the world, with all graphite mining rights held by the company.
Permanent Minerals graphite mine in Manyara province, Tanzania
Permanent Minerals’ 100,000tpa graphite beneficiation plant has been in operation since 2024 and is already shipping material to customers in Europe, the US, Japan, and S. Korea. A second 100,000tpa beneficiation line is under construction and is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
To track ex-China supply developments,Benchmark recently launched two new graphite price grades covering the East Africa region. +80 mesh and -100 mesh, both capturing material with a carbon concentration between 94-95%, on an FOB East Africa basis.
Permanent Minerals graphite mine in Manyara province, Tanzania
What is Africa’s position in the graphite market?
Africa currently has seven active flake graphite mines in Mozambique, Madagascar, and Tanzania, with a combined capacity of 510kt.
The continent has a healthy pipeline of projects due online by the middle of the next decade. An additional 12 mines are projected to lift Africa’s flake graphite capacity to ~1.5m tonnes by 2035, broadening the production base to Namibia, Uganda, and Malawi.
Read Benchmark’s special issue: Powering the Transition: Africa’s Critical Mineral Moment
In Tanzania, three projects are advancing towards final investment decisions. EcoGraf’s Epanko and Evolution Energy Minerals’ Chilalo projects have already commenced groundwork, including the construction of access roads. Meanwhile, Black Rock Mining’s Mahenge project has secured full funding for Module 1 and is moving into the execution phase.
Africa’s share of global flake graphite supply is set to rise from 19% in 2025 to 36% in 2035, supported by new project development and increasing utilisation rates at existing operations. These developments are underpinned by the continent’s abundant resources, competitive cost base, and demand growth from Europe, North America, and Asia.
Benchmark data shows Africa has the second-lowest all-in sustaining cost (AISC) behind China for flake graphite production in 2025. Although average costs are expected to rise as newer, higher-cost projects are brought online, Africa is forecast to remain cost-competitive relative to emerging producers in regions such as North America.
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