The Orom-Cross Graphite Project is on course to begin production by the end of 2027, positioning the country to become a key supplier of graphite to the fast-growing electric vehicle battery market as global demand shifts away from China. Blencowe Resources PLC, which is developing the graphite mine in Orom East Sub-county, Kitgum District, says in its July 2026 project report that the venture has progressed from exploration to pre-production in just six years after investing US$15 million in drilling, feasibility studies and resource development.
The company said its immediate priority is securing financing before construction begins. “Orom-Cross has moved from early-stage development through Definitive Studies to Pre-Production in just six years. Next step: funding and then production,” the report states. Blencowe says governments and electric vehicle manufacturers are increasingly seeking alternative graphite supplies outside China to reduce supply chain risks, creating an opportunity for the Ugandan project.
Production will be rolled out in phases, beginning with 20,000 tonnes of graphite concentrate annually before increasing to 70,000 tonnes and eventually 175,000 tonnes. “First production by end-2027 and ramp-up thereafter based on delivery, experience and success,” the report says, adding that offtake agreements have already been signed for the entire Phase One output. The project has secured a US$5 million technical assistance grant from the United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), making Orom-Cross the first pre-production graphite project globally to receive funding from the US government through the agency.
The partnership is also expected to support future debt financing for my development. Blencowe has also been selected as the exclusive supplier of natural flake graphite to the European Union-backed SAFELOOP programme, creating a long-term market for Ugandan graphite and strengthening links with Europe’s electric vehicle industry. On sustainability, the company says the project will use renewable electricity from Uganda’s hydropower grid and implement community development programmes, including education scholarships, local employment and continuous engagement with surrounding communities.
Dan Michael Komakech, Communications and Public Relations Officer at Consolidated Africa Resources Limited, the local company implementing the project, said construction of the beneficiation plant is expected to begin in the last quarter of 2026. “We believe that the first pure graphite will be out in maybe the second quarter or the first half of the year 2027,” Komakech said.
The project, which covers about 2,073 hectares, has undergone more than seven years of exploration, technical studies and regulatory approvals. The company received a 21-year mining licence in 2019, valid until 2040, after completing prospecting and exploration. The company has completed drilling campaigns, hydrological studies, road construction, mine design and environmental and social impact assessments.
It has also connected the mine to two electricity transmission lines with support from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to ensure reliable power supply. The National Environment Management Authority has approved the project’s environmental and social impact assessment and completed its first compliance audit. Komakech said the company has acquired 100 acres of land in Angagura Sub-county, Pader District, for the planned Spherical Purified Graphite (SPG) plant after purchasing it from local landowners for US$70,000 two weeks ago.
He said the SPG plant will follow completion of the beneficiation facility, although both projects could overlap depending on construction progress. Once operational, the Orom-Cross project is expected to increase the value of Uganda’s mineral exports by producing processed battery-grade graphite for the global electric vehicle industry. Graphite is a naturally occurring form of carbon widely used in lithium-ion batteries, lubricants, refractories and pencils-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
