Rwanda-based mining company Trinity Metals has begun its inaugural sonic drilling programme at the Nyakabingo mine.

The drilling programme comprises up to 106 planned drill holes at depths ranging from 12 m to 20 m. This is expected to generate about 210 samples for metallurgical testing and particle size distribution analysis, alongside 1 600 samples for laboratory grade analysis.

The results will be used to prepare an updated mineral reserve and resource statement.

The company says the results of the programme are expected to significantly increase the mineral resources for the Nyakabingo mine, providing greater confidence for future investment decisions and supporting planned expansions in both mining and mineral processing capacity.

The re-evaluation of the Nyakabingo stockpiled material is expected to increase the mine's resource base by about 2.5-million tonnes at an estimated grade of 0.3% tungsten trioxide.

The company notes that the results of the drilling and metallurgical testing will help support the ongoing study and design of a modern processing plant to optimise the recovery from run-of-mine and the historical stockpiled material.

The company adds that the initiative aligns with its broader sustainability strategy by recovering valuable minerals from legacy stockpiled material while reducing the environmental footprint associated with resource extraction.

The company says it has implemented strict quality assurance and quality control procedures to ensure only environmentally approved drilling fluids with certified material safety data sheets are used.

Water generated during drilling will be collected through the mine's existing water management infrastructure and safely contained within the site's water storage dams.

Following the successful drilling programme at Nyakabingo, Trinity says it plans to extend similar assessments at its Musha and Rutongo mines, creating a group-wide approach to maximising resource recovery and operational efficiency.

By unlocking additional value from the Nyakabingo stockpiles, Trinity CEO Peter Geleta says, the company will significantly increase its mineral resource base, creating new opportunities to increase production and entrenching Trinity and Rwanda as a leading global supplier of tungsten.