Sovereign Metals Limited announces confirmation of the mining method and completion of the mining fleet design for the Kasiya Rutile-Graphite Project in Malawi, representing another significant milestone in the ongoing Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS).
The company has finalised the selection of mining equipment specifically designed for large-scale dry mining operations at Kasiya.
Following the successful 2024 pilot phase of mining trials which confirmed that Kasiya ore can be efficiently mined using conventional dry mining techniques, the comprehensive fleet design encompasses both primary mining operations and support activities across the project's proposed initial 25-year life of mine.
The dry mining approach, detailed in the company's recent optimised pre-feasibility study (OPFS), will deliver superior project delivery, operational flexibility, and environmental outcomes. The fleet deployment follows a strategic phased approach, with a total of ~200+ equipment units to be purchased over the mine life, including replacements.
Sovereign Metals CEO, Mr Frank Eagar, commented: "The successful validation of our dry mining approach through comprehensive pilot phase trials has enabled us to design a fleet that delivers on our commitment to industry-leading low operating costs, while maintaining exceptional operational flexibility and reliability.
The strategic phased deployment demonstrates our disciplined approach to capital allocation and operational efficiency. Our dragline-based dry mining method offers superior safety, operational flexibility, and environmental outcomes, while our multi-supplier strategy ensures competitive procurement and ongoing support. This milestone brings us closer to our DFS completion and demonstrates the systematic progress we are making across all work streams."
The company has conducted a comprehensive market analysis and identified leading global equipment manufacturers as potential suppliers, including Caterpillar Inc. (CAT), Komatsu Ltd. (Komatsu), Liebherr Group (Liebherr), Hitachi, Ltd. (Hitachi), and Volvo Group (Volvo).