London-listed Critical Metals has appointed Lloyd Kirtley as its Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) project field manager with immediate effect.
The company is redeveloping a former producing copper/cobalt mine in the DRC.
At Critical Metals, Kirtley's role will be to support all activities at the Molulu project, including all environmental and social assessments, all start-up mining activities, camp management (including infrastructure upgrades) and, critically, the logistics for the delivery of materials to local smelters for processing and/or selling channels for copper and cobalt production.
Kirtley is noted to be a highly experienced geologist with over 40 years’ experience in mining and mineral exploration, including a recent role in the DRC.
He started his career with companies associated with Anglo American and went on to spend 25 years in various roles there, across several jurisdictions in different capacities from mining and geologist roles to management roles.
Kirtley has since held roles in a number of Africa-based exploration and production companies.
His most recent role was with Pasofino Gold, a Canada-based mineral exploration company with a project in southern Liberia, as logistics and field manager.
“I am delighted to welcome Lloyd to the Critical Metals team so swiftly after the completion of our acquisition of the Molulu project in DRC.
“His experience with working in the field in many African countries will be invaluable as we quickly move this ex-producing copper/cobalt asset, in a highly prospective region, into production in the fourth quarter, which is intended to generate the cash flow required to fund future expansion and operations,” says CEO Russell Fryer.
He indicates that work is under way to repair the mine roads and remobilise the camp.