Sovereign Metals (ASX:SVM) said an optimized pre-feasibility study for its Kasiya rutile-graphite project in Malawi confirmed its status as a leading future supplier of graphite and rutile, which contains titanium dioxide, according to an Australian bourse filing on Wednesday.

The study proposed a large-scale, long-life operation to deliver substantial volumes of natural rutile and graphite, with a large-scale open-pit dry mining operation using draglines. It also proposed a process plant front-end, consisting of two scrubbers and two oversize screens.

Over a 25-year life of mine, the Kasiya project is set to produce an average of 222,000 tonnes of natural rutile and 233,000 tonnes of natural flake graphite per annum.

The initial pre-feasibility study, released in September 2023, had proposed a hydraulic mining process where slurry material would be screened and pumped overland to processing plants.

The optimized study was undertaken after a strategic investment in the firm by Rio Tinto Mining and Exploration in 2023, which established a joint technical committee for the project.

The firm's shares fell over 1% in early trading on Wednesday.