The ore is from the project's 10,000-tonne bulk sampling metallurgical test work programme started over the final weekend in January, with peak haulage of 12 trucks carrying a combined 420t per day was expected to be reached by January 31.

Keras CEO Russell Lamming said the ore was being stockpiled at a secure site close to the Lomé deep-water port and would be transferred to the bulk material wharf when shipping started in late February.

"The continued success of the bulk sampling programme has underpinned the significant value that we attribute to Nayega; we believe the project will form the cornerstone of Keras' manganese business moving forward," he said.

Nayega's scrubber plant, which was commissioned in December, has also reached steady-state production of 230tpd of saleable manganese, with four shifts operating all day, every day.

Nayega has installed capacity to produce around 6,500t per month of 35% manganese ore and with recent test work results returned grades of over 40% manganese, which Keras said suggested further potential upside to the operation.