Namibia’s Ongombo copper targets 480kt per annum

The Ongombo Copper Project, located in Namibia’s Matchless copper belt, is being developed as a low-grade, low-tonnage operation targeting a production rate of 40,000 tonnes per month, with mine planning anchored in strict cost control and a projected life of 12 to 14 years.

The project lies approximately 45 kilometres from Windhoek and 1.5 kilometres northeast of the historic Otjihase Mine, within the Kuiseb Formation of the Southern Zone of the Damara Orogen.

The licence area spans 15.7 kilometres north–south and 12.5 kilometres east–west, covering a total of 12,092 hectares, with access via the B6 road toward Gobabis and the M53 gravel route.

Geologically, the deposit is hosted within the Matchless Member, a well-defined assemblage of foliated amphibolite, chlorite-amphibolite schist, talc schist and metagabbro.

This mineralised belt extends over 350 kilometres from the Gorob–Hope area toward Steinhausen and reaches widths of up to five kilometres in the Otjihase area.

Mineralisation across the belt is characterised by sulphide-rich “shoots” that range from a few tens of metres to as much as 400 metres wide and extend for several kilometres along strike.

At least 13 deposits have been identified within this system, clustered into three main zones: Gorob/Hope in the south, Matchless in the central belt, and Otjihase/Ongombo/Ongeama in the north.

At Ongombo, the resource is defined within these shoots, with both central and eastern zones contributing to the overall mineral inventory.

At a 0.6% copper cut-off, measured and indicated resources total 6.71 million tonnes grading 1.52% copper, 8 g/t silver and 0.32 g/t gold, with an average density of approximately 3.11 t/m³ and sulphur content of 8.5%.

Within this, the central shoot contributes 1.17 million tonnes at 1.83% copper (measured) and 0.57 million tonnes at 1.92% copper (indicated), while the eastern zone contributes 4.97 million tonnes at 1.4% copper.

Inferred resources at the same cut-off add a further 3.75 million tonnes grading 1.70% copper, 9 g/t silver and 0.32 g/t gold, with density around 3.06 t/m³ and sulphur content of 11.1%.

The central shoot accounts for 0.93 million tonnes at 1.43% copper, while the eastern zone contributes 2.82 million tonnes at 1.79% copper.

At a higher 1.0% copper cut-off, measured and indicated resources stand at 5.48 million tonnes grading 1.67% copper, 9 g/t silver and 0.32 g/t gold, with a density of approximately 3.12 t/m³ and sulphur content of 9.1%.

Inferred resources at this cut-off total 3.02 million tonnes grading 1.92% copper and 10 g/t silver, with sulphur content increasing to 11.9%.

Copper and silver are reported in measured and indicated categories, while gold remains classified as inferred.

The scale of the deposit informs the development strategy. With relatively modest tonnage compared to larger Southern African copper operations, the project is being designed as a low-cost mine with minimal infrastructure, in line with its shorter life and compact resource base.

The 40ktpm production target translates to approximately 480,000 tonnes per annum, reinforcing its positioning as a small but focused operation.

Despite its size, the deposit remains open along strike, providing some potential for incremental resource growth, although the overall production horizon remains constrained relative to larger regional assets.

Employment during construction is expected to range from 20 to 80 workers, while operational staffing will stabilise at 50 to 80 employees.

The mining operation will run two underground crews, each comprising 14 personnel: a miner, team leader, two blasting assistants, a drill rig operator and assistant, a roof bolter operator and assistant, a load-haul-dump operator, two truck drivers, and three face preparation assistants.

The Ongombo project forms part of Namibia’s broader effort to revitalise copper production within historically productive belts.

Its proximity to existing mining infrastructure at Otjihase and established access routes enhances its development profile, even as its economics remain tightly linked to disciplined cost management.