Global mining giant Rio Tinto has quietly positioned itself for a major copper play in Namibia by securing a portfolio of exploration licences across the country’s copper-rich Kalahari Copper Belt.
The move marks a significant return to Namibia for the company, which once operated the now-sold Rössing uranium mine.
Strategic licence acquisition in copper-rich regions
According to Namibia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy licence records, Rio Tinto Mining & Exploration Ltd holds at least eight contiguous Exclusive Prospecting Licences (EPLs) across the Khomas and Omaheke regions.
These include EPLs 7530, 7531, 7532, 7533, 7536, 7538, 7540, and 7541—each covering close to 100,000 hectares.
Combined, they represent nearly 800,000 hectares of prospective ground in one of southern Africa’s most underexplored copper belts.
Rio Tinto acquired these EPLs in 2022, according to the latest updates from the ministry.
The coordinated timing and scale of the acquisitions suggest a deliberate and strategic push into Namibia’s copper space, likely in response to surging global demand for the metal as a critical component in electrification and renewable energy technologies.
Focus on the Kalahari Copper Belt
The licences fall within the Kalahari Copper Belt, a geological formation that extends from Botswana into eastern Namibia.
The belt has recently attracted the attention of several explorers and mid-tier miners, including Sandfire Resources and Noronex, due to its structural similarity to the Central African Copperbelt, which hosts some of the world’s largest copper deposits.
Joint venture with Kuiseb Copper Company
Within this licence area, Rio Tinto is operating at least one project in partnership with a local entity.
EPL 7532 is being explored under a joint venture with Kuiseb Copper Company (Pty) Ltd, with a stated focus on copper, rare, and precious metals.
According to publicly available environmental documents, the exploration programme includes geological mapping, sampling, geophysics, and drilling.
Key target areas in Khomas and Omaheke
Khomas (Windhoek area): Large contiguous EPLs under the KCC/Rio Tinto partnership are focused on copper exploration, with the Kuiseb River and Matchless Amphibolite Belt formation as key targets. EPLs 7730–7732 cover approximately 150,000 hectares in an area with known copper–gold mineralisation trends.
Omaheke (east, near Gobabis): EPL 7532 (KCC) is currently under environmental clearance, covering base and rare metals in Omaheke.
Rio Tinto’s standalone EPLs 7531 and 7536—approximately 187,000 hectares in total—further reinforce the company’s direct landholding and interest in regional copper exploration.
Ownership and operational structure
Kuiseb Copper Company (KCC) is a Namibian entity jointly operated by a local Namibian company and Rio Tinto Mining & Exploration Ltd.
The partnership leverages Rio Tinto’s global expertise and KCC’s local exploration and licensing capabilities, with field operations conducted in conjunction with Remote Exploration Services.
Public consultations and environmental process
EPL 7532, held by KCC and Rio Tinto, is currently undergoing environmental clearance in the Omaheke region.
A formal public consultation process related to rezoning and impact assessment took place in October and November 2024.
Notices were published in newspapers on 9–10 October 2024, inviting public comments from affected and interested parties.
The initial comment period, which ran from October 9 to 31, 2024, was subsequently extended to November 7, 2024, to allow for additional input from stakeholders. Local communities were engaged through newspaper advertisements, house‑to‑house delivery of information on October 24 2024, and submission opportunities via an environmental consultant and the ECC Portal.
This was the first round of public feedback specific to EPL 7532; further consultation rounds are likely as exploration progresses.
Geological potential of the belt
The Kalahari Copper Belt is known for sediment-hosted copper-silver mineralisation, often lying beneath a thin Kalahari sand cover.
While exploration in Namibia has historically lagged behind that of its better-known neighbour, Botswana, recent years have seen renewed interest as drill campaigns confirm shallow, high-grade targets.
Global context for copper expansion
Rio Tinto’s re-entry into Namibia’s mining landscape—this time through copper—comes as the global miner expands its copper footprint globally, including significant investments in the Oyu Tolgoi mine in Mongolia and the Resolution project in the United States. It also reflects a broader industry trend in which diversified miners are racing to secure new copper supplies amid forecasts of significant global shortfalls in the coming decade.
Namibia’s rising role in copper supply
Although still at the exploration stage, Rio Tinto’s Namibian licences could unlock a new frontier for copper development if discoveries mirror the potential seen elsewhere in the belt.
For now, the company is maintaining a low profile as fieldwork continues, but its presence has already reshaped expectations for Namibia’s role in the global copper supply chain.
As the projects mature, Rio Tinto will likely face decisions on whether to develop assets directly, farm them out, or bring in partners.
Either way, its footprint confirms growing confidence in Namibia’s geology—and its ability to support world-class copper operations.
