Forsys Metals plans to deepen the Valencia box cut in 2026 to extract about 20,000 tonnes of fresh uranium ore for bulk testing as the company advances work to bring Namibia’s Norasa uranium project closer to development.
The bulk sample will be used to verify earlier bench-scale metallurgical results and support larger-scale test work involving ore sorting, high-pressure grinding rolls (HPGR) and heap leaching technologies.
The programme builds on the first blast conducted at Valencia in August 2024, an event attended by senior government officials, local leaders and industry stakeholders.
The planned work forms part of a broader effort to de-risk the Norasa project, which combines the Valencia and Namibplaas uranium deposits and ranks among Namibia’s largest undeveloped uranium assets.
Forsys has spent the past 18 months advancing multiple aspects of the project. During that period, the company published an updated mineral resource estimate, completed the first blast at Valencia, secured a lease with an option to purchase farmland covering much of the Namibplaas licence area, continued exploration drilling and carried out metallurgical optimisation studies aimed at improving uranium recovery while reducing operating costs.
The company has also been reviewing pit designs and plant layouts while assessing ways to lower mining and processing costs. Particular attention is being given to electric mining equipment and ore-sorting technologies.
At the same time, discussions have continued with NamWater and NamPower regarding future water and electricity supply, while opportunities for lower-cost solar power are being explored with neighbouring green hydrogen developments, including HyIron and Zhero.
Exploration remains a major focus.
Recent drilling at Valencia has highlighted the potential for additional uranium resources beyond the current estimate.
At Valencia South, drilling intersected an average grade of 210 parts per million U₃O₈ over 253 metres, including 16 metres grading 655 parts per million U₃O₈. Other notable intersections included 363 ppm equivalent U₃O₈ over 43 metres and 213 ppm U₃O₈ over 53 metres.
Valencia East returned one of the best results from drill hole VA24-043, which intersected 313 ppm U₃O₈ over 20 metres. At Valencia West, drill hole VA24-052 intersected 222 ppm equivalent U₃O₈ over 34 metres, while drilling at Jolie West returned 185 ppm U₃O₈ over 41 metres from near surface.
The Bundu Zone also produced encouraging results, including 198 ppm equivalent U₃O₈ over 28 metres.
Having completed much of the drilling at Valencia, Forsys is increasingly turning its attention to Namibplaas.
The company’s 2026 exploration programme at Namibplaas Main includes 44 boreholes covering approximately 9,333 metres.
The primary objective is to upgrade a large portion of the deposit’s 42 million pounds of inferred uranium resources into the higher-confidence indicated category.
A second target area, known as Namibplaas Area-A, will initially be tested with two drill holes designed to confirm geological potential before committing to a larger drilling campaign.
Land access has also been strengthened through a lease agreement that includes an option to purchase the 6,714-hectare Namibplaas PTN-1 farm.
The property covers approximately 93% of EPL 3638 and provides unrestricted access to most of the licence area. Forsys believes the arrangement will support its strategy to expand and upgrade the project’s uranium resource base.
Norasa comprises the Valencia and Namibplaas deposits.
Valencia is covered by Mining Licence 149, which remains valid until June 2033 and can be renewed in 15-year increments. Namibplaas falls under EPL 3638, where a licence renewal application has already been submitted.
The project’s Environmental Clearance Certificate, covering mine development activities at Valencia and prospecting work at Namibplaas, is currently valid until 23 May 2026.
The renewed focus on drilling, metallurgical testing and infrastructure planning comes as uranium markets continue to benefit from growing global support for nuclear energy.
Forsys believes the combination of resource growth, bulk-scale metallurgical testing and ongoing engineering optimisation will provide the technical foundation needed to advance Norasa toward a future development decision.
