African Pioneer has received a licence for its Ongombo Copper-Gold Project in Namibia.
The licence 240 is valid until 2045.
African Pioneer holds an 85% stake in the project, located approximately 40 km northeast of Windhoek.
The issuance of the licence marks the final step in the government’s permitting process following the recent award of the Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC No. 2302356 in March 2025.
African Pioneer executive chairman Colin Bird said this marks a significant milestone for African Pioneer, enabling us to transition from permitting into project execution.
Bird added that the substantial upgrade in mineral resources and the decision to initiate low-cost, open-pit mining as a ‘starter’ operation puts us on a fast-track path toward production.
“We look forward to advancing Ongombo into a key contributor to the copper and gold production in the Khomas Region of Namibia,” Bird said.
The updated mineral resource estimates for the Ongombo project, revised by Addison Mining Services (AMS) and reported on May 16, 2023, delineate a potential combined open pit and underground mining operation based on JORC-2012 resources of 5.7 Mt at 1.1% copper equivalent, 0.94% copper, and 0.23 g/t gold (indicated) (gross).
This resource includes 930 Kt at 0.57% copper and 0.19 g/t gold, with open-pit potential, and is believed to be amenable to a starter mine using lower-cost open-pit methods.
Significantly, the AMS update reports previously unstated inferred underground potential resources of 23 at 0.95% copper and 0.24 g/t gold.
African Pioneer is taking a modern, low-cost approach to ore processing. The company is trialling innovative ore-sorting technologies, including X-ray transmission (XRT) and laser-based methods, to improve efficiency and reduce water consumption—an essential consideration in Namibia’s arid climate. The plan is to pre-concentrate ore at the mine site and then send it to existing facilities for further processing, minimising the need for expensive new infrastructure.
To support this phase of development, the company raised nearly N$9.8 million (approximately £420,000) in early 2025. The funds will be used for infill drilling, project planning, and advancing the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), which is already at an advanced stage. African Pioneer is also in discussions with funding partners to secure additional capital for the construction phase.
The immediate next steps for the Ongombo project include finalising the ESIA, completing further drilling to refine the resource model, and advancing the engineering layout for a starter open pit and supporting infrastructure. The company is also developing cost models and assessing toll treatment options for the ore.
In summary, the Ongombo Project is progressing rapidly from exploration to development.
With substantial resources, regulatory approvals, innovative processing strategies, and investor backing, African Pioneer is positioning Ongombo as a flagship copper-gold asset in Namibia’s emerging mining landscape.
