Cameroon’s Ministry of Mines, Industry and Technological Development has granted five exploration permits for LSE-listed battery minerals company Technology Minerals’ nickel, cobalt and copper project, which has recently been validated under Cameroon law.
At least three of the permits are in areas considered prospective for nickel/cobalt-rich laterite.
The property covers 2 456 km2 in south-eastern Cameroon, proximal to the Nkamouna nickel/cobalt laterite deposit, 600 km by road east of the port city of Douala, and 400 km by road east of the capital of Yaoundé.
Since applying for the permits in February 2021, the London-listed company’s Technology Minerals Cameroon (TMC) subsidiary has performed a reconnaissance exploration on the five permit areas, which entailed geochemical evaluation, soil sampling and lithogeochemical (rock) sampling.
With the approval of the permits finalised, TMC plans to continue further exploration and perform a more detailed remote sensing study of the area for nickel, cobalt and manganese.
A two-phase work programme will see data capture, a remote sensing alteration study, and an airborne geographical survey in Phase 1; and, if warranted, follow-up geological mapping, geochemical sampling and an exploration air core drilling programme in Phase 2.
Technology Minerals CEO Alex Stanbury says the company looks forward to further exploration work to increase its understanding of the prospect’s potential.