Craton Mining and Exploration has begun recruiting key technical personnel for Namibia’s Omitiomire Copper Project, providing one of the clearest indications yet that the owner, Appian Capital Advisory, is moving the project from feasibility work towards construction readiness following its acquisition earlier this year.
The company is seeking an On-Site Mining Engineer, with applications closing on 7 August, to support completion of the bankable feasibility work and prepare the project for mine development. The position is based at Omitiomire and will play a central role in translating engineering studies into an operational open-pit mine.
According to the recruitment notice, the successful candidate will be responsible for developing detailed open-pit mine designs, production schedules, waste dump layouts, haul roads, drill-and-blast plans and early mining strategies, while coordinating mine planning with civil works, plant construction and operational readiness.
The role also includes supporting contractor selection, environmental compliance, cost modelling and the transition from project development into mining operations.
The recruitment drive follows Appian Capital Advisory’s acquisition of a 95% controlling interest in Omico Copper, the holding company for Craton Mining and the Omitiomire Copper Project.
The transaction was completed in May after receiving unconditional approval from the Namibia Competition Commission, which concluded that the acquisition would not substantially lessen competition or raise public-interest concerns.
Located approximately 140 kilometres northeast of Windhoek, the Omitiomire Copper Project is one of Namibia’s most advanced undeveloped copper deposits.
Appian plans to invest more than US$400 million to develop the mine, which is expected to produce around 30,000 tonnes of copper per year over an estimated 15-year mine life.
A completed Bankable Feasibility Study outlines a measured and indicated mineral resource of approximately 123 million tonnes grading 0.51% copper, supporting a mineable inventory of 102 million tonnes at the same grade.
Appian has also identified opportunities to improve project economics by replacing the original leach-based processing flowsheet with a flotation circuit, optimising mine scheduling and pursuing further exploration around the existing pit to extend the mine’s life.
The company said Omitiomire complements its existing Namibian portfolio, which already includes the Rosh Pinah Zinc Mine, allowing it to leverage local operating experience, stakeholder relationships and project development expertise.
Appian believes the project will strengthen its exposure to copper, a metal expected to experience sustained demand growth as global investment in electrification, renewable energy infrastructure and electric vehicles accelerates.
The appointment of an on-site mining engineer is widely regarded as one of the final technical recruitment steps before a project enters detailed engineering and construction planning.
The advertised role requires extensive experience in open-pit mine planning, feasibility studies and project development, reflecting Craton’s intention to bridge the gap between design assumptions and actual site conditions before mine construction begins.
The Omitiomire project is held under Mining Licence 197, which is valid until 2036, and includes a 5% interest held by the Craton Foundation Trust, a Namibian community trust established to support local education and social development initiatives.
