Evion Group NL (ASX:EVG) has taken a major step in its community relations program centred on the Maniry Graphite Project in Madagascar with the construction of a 100-student primary school completed.
Key leaders of the Maniry township have welcomed the completion of the school with Evion to also fund ongoing costs, including teachers’ salaries and maintenance.
It was built as part of the company’s commitment to make meaningful, sustainable and multi-generational contributions to the local community.
Food provided
Also, as part of the community relations program, Evion has provided a further five tonnes of food, one for each of the five local villages, taking the amount of food delivered to the communities to 30 tonnes.
In another initiative, the Maniry mine medical centre, which will be staffed by qualified doctors and nurses, will be available free of charge to families of all employees.
Village food donation - Evion’s country manager Jean Luc Marquetoux (right) with the mayor of Maniry (left) and the village chief.
The school was handed over to community leaders at a recent ceremony attended by Evion Group’s country manager Jean Luc Marquetoux.
“Evion is not only committed to supporting the community in which we work in Maniry, we are determined to be a key pillar of it in all respects,” said managing director Tom Revy.
“Education is critical”
“The construction of the school and the food contributions illustrate our combined objective of giving the community both a fishing rod for the longer term and the fish they need today," he said.
“Education is central to any community’s strategy to improve the lives and well-being of its people and the strength of its society.
“The primary school will help ensure the children in Maniry receive this critical education early in their lives, underpinning strong independent futures for them and their communities for years to come.”
“The construction of this school demonstrated the commitment of Evion to the development of our region,” Maniry mayor Mr Sambo said.
“We, therefore, hope that the implementation of the Maniry Graphite Project will bring significant development for the people of Maniry.”
Ideal for BAM
Development of the Maniry project will see Evion become a major graphite supplier to the lithium battery industry with recent metallurgical tests confirming that the Maniry product is ideal for making battery anode material (BAM), a key ingredient in lithium batteries.
Evion has entered a collaborative agreement with leading BAM developer Urbix Inc, USA, to assess the viability of developing a plant to provide BAM for the EV and alternative energy sectors in Europe.
Community involvement welcomed
Other local and regional representatives also added their voice to Evion’s community commitment during the ceremony.
Chief of village Mr Mandrohivelo said: “We have a good relationship with Evion since starting with your project many years ago. We are happy with this school’s construction.”
Village spokesman Mr Philibert said: “I would like to thank Mr Marquetoux and Evion for building this school and for this tribute to the future of our children.”
“Evion has made an excellent choice by providing good social support with building this school,” Member of Parliament for Ampanihy-Ouest Mr Idealson said. “Because educating children is the basis for development.”