Namibia has renewed the Ongombo Copper-Gold Project EPL 5772 for two years, while the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) is at an advanced completion stage.
African Pioneer owns 85% of the Ongombo Copper-Gold Project near Windhoek said pre-production planning to make the transition from exploration to mining is now underway.
The project received a 20-year mining licence 240 on August 10, 2022.
The company informed shareholders on February 7 that discussions with multiple parties about project-level funding of the Ongombo Project were at an advanced stage.
The funding will enable progression of the initial Ongombo open pit to exploit the easily accessible surface ore resources.
In this context, African Pioneer said, engineering design of pre-production works has commenced along with design of the lay-out of internal access roads and the accommodation, office upgrades and fencing required to securely operate the mine site.
African Pioneer also said the X-ray transmission ore sorting sensor tests returned positive results and that laser or colour sensor technology can be used to separate ore and waste.
In May 2023, African Pioneer announced an updated total Indicated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of 5.7Mt at 1.1% Cu Equivalent (CuEq), 0.94% Cu and 0.23g/t Au and a very substantial Inferred underground potential Resources of 23Mt at 1.1% CuEq, 0.95% Cu and 0.24g/t Au.
African Pioneer executive chairperson Colin Bird said they have made good progress on the Ongombo Project with very significant increases to the previous ‘Indicated’ and ‘Inferred’ Mineral Resources and the potential for a ‘starter’ mine using low-cost open-pit methods.
“We plan to combine XTR with laser dry sorting technology to separate ore from waste and generate a high-grade concentrate for transport to an in-country processing plant for final separation before metal recovery,” he said.
Bird added that they were sequencing the primary development infrastructure and the process flowsheet.
“As we advance towards the completion of the ESIA we expect to soon be in a position to move towards project implementation and the completion of development financing,” he said.
