is an exploration/development stage company targeting the growing global graphite industry with the Company’s 400 km2 Namibian-based Aukam Graphite Project. The Aukam graphite mine established in 1940, is a high-grade vein type deposit, with near term production potential. Global graphite demand is being driven by the development of new markets for clean and efficient energy alternatives, smart grid
infrastructure and specialty alloys. Next Graphite has an immediately available, surface-visible, estimated +/-180,000-ton tailings pile. The completion of GPNE's Aukam Graphite Mine re-launch and development activities is expected to result in a multi-million dollar inward investment into Namibia between 2014-2015. Next Graphite’s now 90% owned former Aukam Graphite Mine was established in 1940 in Namibia and was mined periodically between 1940-1974
Production was focused on extraction of “surface-visible” vein graphite ore and high grade under ground vein loads. Approximately 25,000 tons of graphite was produced during its operation. Aukam Graphite’s yield was never processed on site, rather shipped by rail to South Africa for use in the steel industry. Underground access tunnels were developed in 1954 and operated until 1974 when the mine was abandoned after a fire broke out in the lower adit, it is not clear how the fire was ignited but it is expected to have been fuelled by the concentration of pyrite minerals hosted in the deposit. In 2014 Next Graphite Management commenced planning to reopen the Aukam Graphite Mine and begin servicing increased worldwide graphite demand in 2015.
