Syrah Resources Announces Management Changes

Syrah Resources Limited (ASX:SYR) appointed Rhett Brans as a Non-Executive Director, Owen Cavanough as Chief Operating Officer, and Michael Chan as General Manager Balama Development. Together they will focus on the Balama Graphite and Vanadium Project.

As quoted in the press release:

Syrah Resources Limited (ASX: SYR) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Rhett Brans as Non-Executive Director and Mr Owen Cavanough as Chief Operating Officer to work with Mr Michael Chan (as previously announced) who is General Manager Balama Development. The three will form the basis of a formidable team that will focus on the Balama Graphite and Vanadium Project.

Rhett Brans – Non Executive Director
Rhett, an Executive Director of Perseus Mining Limited (ASX: PRU), has 39 years of experience in project development of treatment plants and mine developments. In his role at Perseus, he successfully completed a Bankable Feasibility Study and completed construction of the 5.5 million tonnes per year Edikan Gold Mine in Ghana. He also completed a Feasibility Study for the Sissingue Gold Project in Cote d’Ivoire, which is now ready for construction. During time at Perseus, the company has changed from an explorer to an ASX 100 gold producing company.

At Tiger Resources Limited (ASX: TGS), where he was a Non-Executive Director, Rhett completed a Bankable Feasibility Study and oversaw a staged development for the Kipoi Copper Project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Earlier with Minproc, he was responsible for the management (both directly and indirectly) of the engineering design, procurement and construction management of 22 mineral extraction facilities. Within this period he was responsible, as the overall project manager, for a $340 million fully integrated mineral sands extraction and treatment facility for Ti-West, now called Ticor.

In addition, as a founding Director of Tritton Resources Limited and Managing Director of a successful engineering consulting company, Rhett has beeninvolved with the development of more than 20 further projects in Australia and Africa. Syrah welcomes Rhett to its Board of Directors.

Owen Cavanough – Chief Operating Officer
Owen has wide-ranging relevant experience in African mineral project development and infrastructure planning / construction, as well as government liaison. At Mineral Deposits Limited (MDL), Owen was Project Manager for the 2 million tonnes per year Sabodala Gold Project in remote eastern Senegal and led the delivery of the project from exploration to production. Also for MDL in Senegal, Owen was Project Manager for the 1.3 billion tonne Grande Cote Zircon Project. Owen completed the initial plant engineering for this $250 million mineral sands project, as well as an in-depth analysis of the engineering work necessary for infrastructure such as bulk handling facilities including a railway and port.

Prior to MDL, Owen specialised in infrastructure projects including delivery of infrastructure services for the Melbourne Docklands Project and various projects for Roche Brothers, including projects at the Granites Gold Mine in the Northern Territory and the Blair Athol Coal Mine in north-central Queensland. Syrah’s Board welcomes Owen to the Company for his infrastructure experience and his ability to get projects completed cost
effectively in Africa.

Michael Chan – General Manager Balama Development
Michael is a well-credentialed metallurgist with 35 years of experienced in in senior operations, project development and commercial roles for multi-national and ASX listed companies. His most recent experience has been in the design, construction and plant procurement for rare earth element production. Michael was Country Manager and Senior Commercial Manager for Lynas Malaysia where he established the initial country presence and made commercial arrangements for Lynas’ $800 million rare earth chemical processing project in Malaysia. With Arafura Resources Limited, he was the procurement and supply chain manager for the Nolans Bore Feasibility Study. During this period he also developed a new beneficiation process for the rare earth project. As General Manager Project Development for Kimberley Rare Earths Limited, Michael established a viable concentrator flow sheet for the Cummins Range Project.

Michael brings other valuable experience and skills to Syrah. As General Manager China Development for Millennium Chemicals (world’s second largest titanium dioxide pigment producer) in Shanghai for 12 years, Michael focussed on developing the business in China. His metallurgical networks in China were enhanced during his time with Worley Parsons Group where he created mineral business development opportunities in China in his position as Lead Project Engineer for business development in Asia. This experience will be essential to Syrah in the likely scenario where some plant and equipment is purchased from China. Syrah’s Board is very pleased to have Michael in the team owing to his deep metallurgical, design and development experience and his extensive networks in China.

Click here to read the Syrah Resources Limited (ASX:SYR) press release
Click here to see the Syrah Resources Limited (ASX:SYR) profile