Exploration and resource development company African Pioneer announced that planning work has started on the Ongombo-Ongeama development programme under the terms of the conditional financing and technical services agreement signed between the company and Hong Kong Xinhai Mining Services, as announced in July.

The parties plan, subject to availability of drill rigs, an initial drill programme for up to four diamond drill rigs split between Ongombo and Ongeama to complete the drilling required for geotechnical studies, final underground and openpit mine design and the update of the current 29-million tonnes at 1.1% copper equivalent Joint Ore Reserves Committee-compliant mineral resource estimate for the Ongombo project, in Namibia.

Drilling will begin once all regulatory requirements have been completed and the parties have agreed on drill hole locations and final depths.

A considerable number of technical personnel will be required to oversee and manage the estimated volume of core to be generated by up to four drill rigs and recruitment is underway managed by African Pioneer’s in-country management.

The drill programme will be multi month with an additional period thereafter for the receipt of final assays.

Discussions are also under way to agree the final mine design and plant throughput scope for the development of Ongombo-Ongeama.

“We are very pleased with the rapid progress in the drill programme planning and this is a credit to our technical team and the highly professional approach of Xinhai and their commitment to a significant drilling campaign in the short term. The pending completion requirements in relation to the definitive agreement with Xinhai are well in hand,” says African Pioneer chairperson Colin Bird.

Meanwhile, further to African Pioneers’ announcement on July 30, it has confirmed that the administrative processes relating to conditions precedent in the definitive agreement are being finalised, and will be announced when the conditions precedent have been completed.