Kaoko Metals is accelerating its maiden drilling campaign in Namibia after identifying what it describes as compelling copper-silver targets at its Chalkos Project, bringing forward exploration plans as the company transitions from listing on the Australian Securities Exchange into active field operations.
The company said a recent management and technical site visit to its Namibian portfolio had strengthened confidence in the scale and quality of the Chalkos Copper-Silver Project, prompting a decision to prioritise drilling at the project ahead of its Karibib Gold-Copper-Tungsten Project.
The revised strategy will see diamond drilling commence at the Donkey Hill and Otniel prospects within the next six weeks, subject to final contractor mobilisation, marking the first major drilling campaign undertaken by the company since its ASX listing.
Kaoko managing director Gerard O’Donovan said field observations, geological interpretation and surface mineralisation had collectively strengthened the case for an accelerated drilling programme.
“At Chalkos, the quality of the surface mineralisation, the potential scale of the system and the emerging structural interpretation have given us confidence to accelerate our maiden drilling program, which is planned to commence at the Donkey Hill and Otniel prospects in the near term,” he said.
The decision represents a significant shift in Kaoko’s near-term exploration priorities. While the company had originally planned to begin drilling at its Karibib project, recent work at Chalkos highlighted the strength of the copper mineralised system and the potential importance of structural controls in concentrating mineralisation.
Management said site access and drill readiness activities had advanced faster than expected, allowing the company to bring forward mobilisation plans.
As part of preparations for drilling, Kaoko has engaged structural geologists to undertake detailed field assessments to improve understanding of the mineralised system and refine the orientation of planned drill holes.
The company believes structural geology could prove critical to unlocking the project’s potential, particularly as Namibia continues to demonstrate the importance of structurally controlled mineral systems in recent exploration successes.
The Chalkos Project is located in north-western Namibia, where Kaoko Metals has been advancing copper-silver targets identified through previous exploration. The Donkey Hill and Otniel prospects have emerged as the company’s highest-priority targets due to visible copper mineralisation at surface and favourable geological settings.
While Chalkos moves into drilling mode, Kaoko is simultaneously expanding exploration activities at Karibib.
The company plans to launch a comprehensive regional soil and calcrete sampling programme across the broader Karibib project area in the coming weeks, seeking to identify additional drill targets beyond currently known mineralised zones.
O’Donovan said the strategy mirrors exploration methods that have contributed to some of Namibia’s most significant recent gold discoveries.
“Systematic soil and calcrete sampling has been a very effective exploration tool in Namibia, including in the discovery and advancement of projects such as Kokoseb, Twin Hills and Omatjete,” he said.
The geochemical programme will be integrated with existing geological mapping, geophysical surveys and historical exploration data to build what the company hopes will become a broader pipeline of drill-ready targets.
Beyond technical work, Kaoko used the site visit to strengthen relationships with local communities, conservancy representatives and government officials.
The company held meetings with stakeholders near the Chalkos Project and met with officials from the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy, as well as potential drilling contractors, in Windhoek.
The engagements form part of Kaoko’s broader effort to establish regulatory and community support ahead of the start of drilling activities.
For Namibia’s exploration sector, the accelerated programme adds to growing drilling activity across the country as junior explorers seek exposure to rising demand for copper and other critical minerals required for the global energy transition.
