Orion Minerals has intersected a significant zone of visible copper sulphide mineralisation at the Flat Mine East prospect, within its Okiep copper project in South Africa’s Northern Cape.

This discovery confirms strong resource growth potential down-dip of previously identified high-grade copper zones.

The 7.88-metre intersection, the first resource-optimisation drill hole at the site, was encountered 311.26 metres down-dip from last year’s high-grade intercept. It demonstrates that copper mineralisation continues beyond the current indicated resource envelope,

with mineralisation remaining open at depth for future targeting. “These early observations provide further encouragement regarding the continuity and scale of the mineralised system,” commented Orion MD and CEO Tony Lennox, a former Palabora Mining Company executive who now leads the dual-listed (Sydney and Johannesburg) developer.

Orion continues to advance other projects across the Northern Cape, including the fully permitted Prieska copper/zinc mine (PCZM), which last operated in 1991 and holds a mining resource of 31-million tonnes at 1.2% copper and 3.6% zinc. South Africa’s State-owned Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) has agreed to convert its convertible loan facility into equity in Orion’s subsidiary, PCZM HoldCo, under which the IDC will hold a 23.8% stake in the HoldCo and a 16.7% effective interest in PCZM, while retaining a shareholder loan of R272.4-million.

In a related initiative, BHP Xplor has been conducting workshops across sub-Saharan Africa, including South Africa, to support mineral exploration—a measure expected to further enhance discovery potential in the region.

The Northern Cape’s mining growth aligns with a broader continental push for mineral development, one that also involves Nigeria. Nigeria and South Africa signed a mining cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in April 2025, focusing on investment, technology transfer, and knowledge sharing between both mining sectors.

As Nigeria continues reforms and aims to raise mining’s contribution to its GDP from about 1% currently, such cooperation could help unlock value from its own vast mineral wealth.