Name of the Project
Okiep copper project (OCP).

Location
Northern Cape, South Africa.

Project Owner/s
New Okiep Mining Company, comprising Orion Minerals (56.25%) and the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (43.75%).

Project Description
A scoping study completed in May 2021 has proposed a proof-of-concept-scale copper mining operation at the brownfield OCP, and has confirmed that the project’s deposits have the potential to be mined at low cost using openpit and underground mining methods.

The outcome of the scoping study, based on five initial deposits, supports the economic merit of developing a foundation-phase mining operation, while Orion conducts the required work and engineering studies to evaluate the potential to re-establish mining operations.

The life-of-mine for the proof-of-concept foundation phase is modelled for 12 years, during which concurrent exploration and mine expansion scenarios will be planned and potentially implemented.

The proposed foundation-scale mining operations could run at a design processing plant throughput of 780 000 t/y, resulting in 9 000 t/y of copper sold in marketable concentrates. This could potentially supplement the 23 000 t/y of copper production planned from Orion’s flagship Prieska copper/zinc project.

Underground and surface mining methods will be used in conjunction with mineral processing using conventional froth-flotation concentration to produce the copper concentrates for export.

The proof-of-concept phase of the proposed operation targets the development of only those Okiep copper deposits for which Orion has verified and reported mineral resources during the early phase of the due diligence period. The milled production target comprises measured mineral resources of 33%, indicated mineral resources of 46% and inferred mineral resources of 21%.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The project has a pretax net present value, at a 10% discount rate, of R1.9-billion and an internal rate of return of 44%, with a payback from first production of 3.25 years.

Capital Expenditure
Peak funding is estimated at R643-million.

Planned Start/End Date
First production is possible within 16 months from the start of construction.

Latest Developments
Orion Minerals has advised that it has reached an agreement to access and acquire the surface ownership rights of properties owned by Mora Plase Proprietary. These properties – Farm Nababeep and Farm Plaatjesfontein – overlie most of the area covering the Flat Mines project where Orion’s majority-owned subsidiary, New Okiep Mining Company, holds mining prospecting rights applications at the OCP.

Orion is progressing a bankable feasibility study (BFS) for the Flat Mines project and is progressing prospecting right applications on the surrounding area, where known mineral deposits present significant upside potential. Importantly, this surface right access and ownership will allow for Orion to optimise the location of surface infrastructure including roadways, underground access and ventilation holings for the Flat Mines project.

As a result of the acquisition, Orion will also immediately have access to undertake a drilling programme to confirm the expected metallurgical zonation and geotechnical assessments of the deposits that Orion has included in the Flat Mines project BFS, with the data expected to enhance and further derisk the BFS outcomes.

Orion has mobilised drill rigs to conduct a 3 000 m twin hole drilling programme over the Flat Mines East and Flat Mines North deposits and conduct confirmatory geotechnical and metallurgical test work.

The drilling and test work programme will be completed in the current quarter, with the results to be incorporated into an optimised BFS, which will be externally reviewed in the following quarter before release, scheduled for June 2024.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
ALS Chemex (core sample analysis).

Contact Details for Project Information
Orion Minerals, tel +27 11 880 3159 or email info@orionminerals.com.au.