TSX-listed Koryx Copper has reported that the metallurgical testwork programme for its wholly-owned Haib copper project, in Namibia, has shown encouraging preliminary results.

Haib is an advanced-stage copper/molybdenum project that is envisaged to produce clean copper concentrate through conventional crushing, milling and flotation, with the potential for additional copper production through heap leaching.

Koryx says its metallurgical test programme has made excellent progress since January, noting that the concept of using and enhancing the historical process steps, test parameters and reagent suites has been demonstrated to be very effective.

Multiple samples of Haib mineralisation from various locations within the mineralised system and with a range of copper, molybdenum and gold content in each sample were tested.

Successful historical test parameters were used as the basis for tests on these new samples with enhancements to improve copper recovery or reduce costs.

Generally, the metallurgical results received were excellent and matched or exceeded the results of the historical programmes completed by Mintek in 1996, the company says.

The focus of the testwork programme was on investigations of conventional comminution and flotation of higher-grade portions of mineralisation – containing more than 0.275% copper.

All minerals processing tests needed to support a preliminary economic analysis (PEA) for the project have either been completed or will be completed by July.

Supplementary heap leaching testing will only be completed in 2026, but the successful bacterial leach test programme in 2020 can be used to support the PEA if necessary, says Koryx.

"We are very pleased with the substantial progress we have made with the met testwork, process flowsheet and infrastructure development aspects of the Haib copper project during the last six months.

“Results are highly encouraging and are being incorporated in the PEA which we are preparing to publish in the third quarter of 2025,” says Koryx president and CEO Heye Daun.

Daun expresses that this high-quality PEA is intended to demonstrate the technoeconomic feasibility of Haib as a conventional, long-life, low-cost, large-scale openpit mine with a simple milling and flotation process base case, producing copper in clean concentrates, with additional copper cathode to be produced from a heap leach expansion scenario.

“We have multiple world-class engineering consultants in the final stages of completing this study. We are also expediting our drill programme to be able to produce an improved mineral resource and to capture additional project value through an enhanced technical study during the first half of 2026.

“As we incrementally derisk and improve the Haib copper project our confidence continues to grow that we will turn this formerly forgotten project into Africa’s next simple, but large and world-class copper mine,” he continues.

Koryx notes that infill and expansion drilling is ongoing with four rigs on-site and an additional four rigs to mobilise in the third quarter of this year.

The company notes that the current 55 000 m programme is due for completion in the first quarter of 2026.

This aims to increase the size and grade of the deposit, to be reflected in a mineral resource estimate (MRE) update and follow-on technical study update during the first half of 2026 to capture additional project value – improved MRE and flowsheet plus infrastructure optimisation.

Koryx says column leach tests of high- and low-grade samples began in June, with the primary objective of demonstrating whether a heap leach process is potentially viable for treatment of lower grade mineralisation that cannot be processed profitably through a conventional milling and flotation circuit.

Bacterial leaching, three different chloride leach processes and a nitrate leach technology are all being tested in these column leach tests.

The company says this will be a 6- to 12-month test programme, with results by early 2026 expected to be appropriate to support the next level of technical studies.

SITE ENVIRONMENTAL AND PERMITTING

Koryx says a comprehensive environmental- and social-impact assessment (ESIA) with an associated environmental- and social-management plan (ESMP) is currently being undertaken and developed to International Finance Corporation (IFC) standards.

The ESIA is being prepared to obtain an Environmental Clearance Certificate for the project from Namibian authorities and to supplement a National Instrument 43-101 technical report providing environmental and social compliance components, as well as permitting, for the project.

The full scope of studies includes terrestrial biodiversity, aquatic ecology, hydrology (surface water and groundwater), geochemistry, air and noise, archaeology and socioeconomics.

The company says these studies have all been completed, or are under way, to inform the early design phase of the project. Further focussed baseline and impact studies have been scheduled for the second half of this year.

Following the completion of the baseline studies, and subsequent impact assessment in the ESIA, an ESMP will be developed and submitted to the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism for review towards the end of this year.

Koryx says no fatal flaws have been found in the assessments to date. Comparable environmental permitting processes in Namibia are typically approved within 12 to 18 months.

Additionally, Koryx corporate and site infrastructure now includes a total permanent staff complement of over 50 – including 12 geologists and four engineers, four diamond drill rigs plus various earth-moving vehicles for road and drill pad preparation.

Koryx is also working with a range of “world-class” technical specialists and consultants from especially South Africa, Namibia and Chile.