Chamwe Kaira
The ministry of industries, mines and energy has renewed Koryx Copper’s exclusive prospecting licence (EPL) 3140 for the Haib Copper Project in southern Namibia.
The licence, valid until July 2027, was granted after the company submitted a technical update and confirmed that it had met its expenditure commitments during the previous licence period.
Under the renewal terms, Koryx must provide progress updates after the first year and keep annual environmental clearance certificates from the ministry of environment, forestry and tourism.
Koryx has also applied for a mining licence, as it moves to shift the Haib project from exploration to development.
The application includes technical studies, timelines, and financing plans. A key condition for approval will be the completion of an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, which Koryx and its consultants plan to submit in the second quarter of 2026.
“MIME’s decision to renew EPL 3140 is a significant step forward in securing the Haib Project’s future,” the company said. It added that the mining licence application strengthens its legal tenure over the mineral rights.
The Haib Copper Project is one of the oldest known porphyry copper deposits in southern Africa, with exploration dating back to the 1960s by companies such as Falconbridge, Rio Tinto, and Teck. Metallurgical and technical studies have supported the completion of more than 80 000 metres of drilling.
Currently at the preliminary economic assessment stage, the deposit hosts an indicated resource of 414 million tonnes grading 0.35% copper and an inferred resource of 345 million tonnes grading 0.33% copper, based on a 0.25% cut-off.
Koryx is advancing studies to show the project’s potential as a long-life, low-cost open-pit operation, with added production possible through heap leaching.
Koryx, a Canadian copper development company, is also expanding its exploration work in Zambia to build a regional portfolio of copper assets aimed at supporting the global energy transition.
Caption
The ministry of industries, mines and energy has approved Koryx Copper’s application to renew its exclusive prospecting licence for the Haib Copper Project.
Photo: Contributed
