Mining: Tilwezembe & Kananga
In addition to the KOV mine, the Group also has mining rights at the cobalt-rich Tilwezembe and Kananga mines. These two mines currently account for less than 10% of the Group’s total resources; however, exploration is underway along as yet undocumented long strike lengths at each mine.
Key stats:
- Ore resources: 13.1 million tonnes at Tilwezembe, 4 million tonnes at Kananga
- High cobalt content: 0.65% at Tilwezembe and 0.74% at Kananga
- Significant portion of strike lengths still to be explored
- Exploration drilling underway
Both the Kananga and Tilwezembe ore bodies are open pit operations. Located 5km north of the town of Kolwezi, the Kananga mine has an inferred resource of 4 million tones at grades for copper and cobalt of 1.44% and 0.74% respectively. Of a similar size, and located some 30km south-east of Kolwezi, the Tilwezembe mine has an indicated resource of 13.1 million tones at grades for copper and cobalt of 1.59% and 0.65% respectively.
Intermittent mining at Tilwezembe has been undertaken by Gécamines since 1999, and since 2004 at Kananga.
The majority of the strike length of these ore bodies is as yet unexplored, presenting the potential for an increase in group resources. Exploratory drilling is underway.
