Kahatagaha Graphite to look for investor for value addition

The Cabinet of Ministers has given clearance to Kahatagaha Graphite to find an investor to add value to its production and boost export value.

Accordingly, Industries and Supply Chain Management Ministry is expected to call international tenders to find a partner to add value to the graphite mine. Kahatagaha Graphite mines around 65 to 70 tonnes of graphite a year and the entire production being is exported as a commodity without any value addition.

The Cabinet office said as Sri Lanka currently supplies only 7 percent of the global graphite requirement, the country is not in a position to make any impact on global graphite prices. 

Hence, the government has recognised value addition as the only way to enhance the export value of Sri Lanka’s graphite.