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Highlights
- Copper recoveries from metallurgical tests reach up to 82%
- Pilot plant design completed to progress in-situ recovery
- Environmental and permitting groundwork set for future stages
Cobre Limited (ASX:CBE) has taken a significant step forward at its Ngami Copper Project (NCP) in Botswana, reporting standout results from long-term metallurgical leaching tests. The copper recoveries, reaching as high as 82%, provide solid support for the project's potential to utilise the In-Situ Copper Recovery (ISCR) method — a cost-efficient and environmentally conscious technique that extracts metal without traditional open-pit or underground mining.
One key highlight from the tests was the improved silver extraction using a chloride-enhanced leach solution. This finding opens up opportunities to optimise the recovery process for both copper and associated metals.
In response to these positive outcomes, Cobre has finalised the engineering design of an ISCR pilot plant. The comprehensive design includes infrastructure for injection and recovery wells, a system for lixiviant mixing, and a processing circuit incorporating precipitation, solvent extraction, and electrowinning technologies. Additionally, the company has accounted for environmental assessments and legal permitting to pave the way for upcoming stages.
Looking ahead, Cobre plans to move toward copper cathode production directly from the ISCR solution through solvent extraction and electrowinning processes. Further metallurgical testing is scheduled to validate scalability, contributing to the project's potential role in future copper supply chains.
Chief Executive Officer Adam Wooldridge remarked that the test results validate the use of ISCR at NCP. With copper recoveries potentially reaching the 50% range under real-world conditions, the economics appear favourable, particularly considering ISCR’s typically lower capital and operational expenditure profile.
Cobre's progress places it among the innovative companies in the ASX300 index, as the project continues to show promise within the broader resource sector. The ASX300, which includes companies like Cobre that demonstrate strong growth or strategic importance, can offer insights into emerging opportunities across Australian equities.
For investors tracking resource-focused ASX dividend stocks, Cobre’s trajectory adds another layer of interest. While still in the development phase, the company's forward momentum and infrastructure planning signal intent to create long-term shareholder value (Explore ASX dividend stocks).
As the Ngami Copper Project advances through its next stages, developments around the ISCR process and cathode production could position Cobre as a notable player in the copper industry — both regionally and within the broader ASX-listed mining landscape.
