JSE-listed Copper 360 reports that it successfully executed the first on-ore blast at its Rietberg mine, in the Northern Cape, on January 31.

The company says this marks the first such blast in 42 years and signals the start of Copper 360's transition from less predictable mine development towards structured hard-rock mining.

“Since the reopening of the Rietberg mine in August 2024, the development and commissioning stage required Copper 360 to work through the highly oxidised, unpredictable and lower-grade broken rock before being able to target the more structured hard-rock resource, containing higher in situ copper grades, which aligns to our historic drill results and mine plans,” the company says.

Development at the Rietberg mine will continue over the next nine months, ramping up to full production of about 40 000 t a month by the end of the current calendar year.

The company says this milestone marks another step in its aspirations to become a meaningful global copper producer by efficiently exploiting its own vast copper resources in the region.

Copper 360 explains that there are various implications of on-ore mining.

This includes transitioning away from historically unpredictable broken and transitional rock, which presented challenges in estimating grade, volumes and recoveries.

Further, on-reef mining allows for the extraction of material with known grade and mineralogical characteristics, significantly improving predictability and operational planning.

Moreover, the required underground infrastructure and equipment have been strategically planned, procured and implemented to support long-term hard-rock mining.

"This marks a pivotal moment for Copper 360 as we shift from an unpredictable phase of broken rock processing to a structured, sustainable hard-rock mining operation. This transition will provide us with the consistency and reliability needed to achieve our production and financial targets.

“The successful execution of the first on-ore blast at the Rietberg mine is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our team. We are confident that this strategy will drive long-term value for our shareholders and position Copper 360 for sustainable success,” says Copper 360 CEO Shirley Hayes.

The company’s share price on the JSE rose by nearly 9% following the announcement on February 5.