Skeleton Coast Uranium has unveiled an exploration programme worth up to US$1.575 million (about N$28 million) across three uranium exploration licences in Namibia’s Erongo Region after filing independent National Instrument (NI) 43-101 technical reports that pave the way for the next phase of exploration.
The Canadian-listed explorer has lodged technical reports for Exclusive Prospecting Licences (EPLs) 8208, 9727 and 8617, all located within Namibia’s world-class uranium province.
Collectively, the reports recommend a two-phase, decision-gated exploration programme, with estimated expenditure ranging from US$975,000 to US$1.575 million as the company advances the projects towards drilling.
Skeleton Coast Uranium chief executive officer Dr Nathan Chutas said the reports establish the technical foundation for systematically advancing the company’s Namibian uranium portfolio.
“These technical reports provide an exploration baseline for rapidly advancing Skeleton Coast Uranium’s projects. We understand that successful exploration and expansion of the uranium resource base is critical if the mining industry is to meet the needs of a growing nuclear reactor fleet,” Chutas said.
The three licences are strategically positioned either adjacent to or within 10 to 25 kilometres of Namibia’s producing uranium mines — Rössing, Husab and Langer Heinrich — which together account for approximately 10% of global uranium production.
The company believes the licences are prospective for both primary leucogranite-hosted uranium mineralisation, similar to Rössing and Husab, and secondary calcrete-hosted palaeochannel uranium mineralisation, comparable to Langer Heinrich.
The reports caution, however, that these remain conceptual exploration models requiring further work before any mineral resources can be defined.
The largest component of the programme covers EPL 8208, which spans approximately 7,840.7 hectares immediately adjoining the Langer Heinrich Mine over a shared boundary of roughly 15 kilometres.
The technical report recommends exploration expenditure of between US$325,000 and US$525,000. Current work focuses on compiling historical geological and geophysical information, refining exploration targets and validating priority areas before any drilling decisions are made.
A further US$325,000 to US$525,000 has been allocated to EPL 9727, a 12,081.1-hectare property situated within Namibia’s renowned Alaskite Alley, home to the Rössing and Husab uranium mines as well as the advanced Etango, Omaholo and Norasa uranium projects.
Phase One includes integrating historical drilling records, geological mapping, structural interpretation and remote sensing data to identify the most prospective exploration corridors before progressing to field testing.
The third licence, EPL 8617, covering approximately 10,491.5 hectares, lies only 1.5 kilometres east of the Valencia uranium deposit within the Norasa Project and about 18 kilometres from both the Rössing and Husab uranium mines.
The report recommends another US$325,000 to US$525,000 exploration programme focusing on geological interpretation, radiometric data analysis, palaeodrainage mapping and ranking drill targets.
The reports show that exploration is already under way across all three licences through data consolidation and target generation.
Only after geological, geochemical, and radiometric anomalies have been verified during Phase One will the company decide whether to proceed with drilling in Phase Two.
Skeleton Coast Uranium’s exploration rights are secured through agreements with Namibian licence holders. Under agreements covering EPLs 8208 and 9727, the company can earn up to a 75% interest by spending at least CAD$3 million on exploration, environmental, technical and administrative activities before 30 June 2028, in addition to making a CAD$250,000 cash payment.
For EPL 8617, the company must incur at least CAD$2 million in qualifying expenditure before 15 June 2028, including a minimum CAD$500,000 by 15 December 2026, to exercise its option.
All three licences are supported by valid Environmental Clearance Certificates approved by the Namibian authorities, allowing exploration and drilling to proceed subject to approved Environmental Impact Assessments and Environmental Management Plans.
The independent technical reports, prepared by Christopher J. Male of Practara Pty Ltd, provide the geological baseline from which Skeleton Coast Uranium intends to pursue what it hopes will become Namibia’s next major uranium discovery.
