Lincoln recently extended the resource by 114 per cent after targeting growth at Kookaburra Gully with its first drilling program in seven years. It now shows 412,000 tonnes of contained graphite and management is eyeing an updated prefeasibility study (PFS) in the second half of this year.

Further resource growth is possible as the KGP has a multitude of electromagnetic (EM) anomalies that spread south-west and north-east and span more than 15km. The anomalies are the result of an airborne EM survey conducted in 2012, with the company systematically working its way through the targets with each drill program.

It is now planning to drill targets outside the known mineralisation areas later this year.

Management says it is also considering up to 100,000 tonnes per annum of concentrate being produced. It adds that the project has started to attract interest from potential partners and offtakers, with an Asian-based graphite buyer recently visiting the site.

The KGP sits about 30km from Port Lincoln on the Eyre Peninsula, which is responsible for about 60 per cent of Australia’s JORC-classified graphite resources. It sits between Renascor Resources’ Siviour project that contains 8.5 million tonnes of graphite at 6.9 per cent TGC to the north-east and Quantum Graphite’s Uley play that consists of 760,000 tonnes at 10.5 per cent TGC to the south-west.

All three projects are situated on the Hutchison Group – the region’s dominant graphite mineralisation trend.

Lincoln holds 100 per cent of the graphite rights over 1151 square kilometres of exploration tenure and the Kookaburra Gully mining lease, of which 982.5sq km are considered prospective for graphite. Management also notes increased recent pricing for graphite appears to be supported by the export restrictions imposed by China on the battery commodity.

Now, the opportunity to rub shoulders with a myriad of graphite-hungry customers at the EU trade mission may just be the answer to the company’s Kookaburra calling.

Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au