Cazaly Resources says it will reschedule its drilling program at the Kaoko Lithium Project pending the approval of the environmental clearance certificate.
The Kaoko Project, under EPL 6667, hosts a large lithium-in-soil anomaly at the Ohevanga prospect covering 120 km2.
The mines ministry renewed the Kaoko Lithium project licence in November 2023 for two years.
The company also says it is waiting for the Abenab North Rare Earth licence, whose application was submitted in October 2022, to establish access agreements with local landowners, generate 3D models for aeromagnetic targets, and test base metal mineralisation.
The Abenab North Rare Earth project, under EPL 9110, lies in the Otavi Mountain Land region of northern Namibia close to Tsumeb and Grootfontein.
The ASX-listed company had previously announced drilling would take place in late Q1 to early Q2 2024.
On November 13, 2023, Cazaly said it wanted to drill approximately 3,000m following approvals of vegetation clearing and
drilling permits.
This initial drilling phase was supposed to test the regolith and fresh rock beneath the highest lithium in soil results on a 200m x 100m grid.
The company needed the environment ministry’s approval for vegetation clearing and drilling permits for the drill test.
Cazaly Resources told investors in an exploration update dated March 25 that it submitted the required environmental compliance monitoring and audit
report and the updated environmental management plan in
mid-December 2023 to renew the Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC).
According to Cazaly Resources, to progress towards drilling the large lithium target at Ohevanga, the company completed the environmental surveys required for planned drilling activities.
“However, drilling cannot proceed without the renewed ECC in place. This renewal is currently being assessed by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism,” Cazaly Resources says.