Sovereign Metals Ltd (ASX:SVM, OTC:SVMLF, AIM:SVML) has started an infill drilling programme at its Kasiya Rutile-Graphite Project in Malawi.
It will focus on the southern part of Kasiya, which is planned to provide ore for the first eight years of production with the aim of upgrading the resource estimate from the 'indicated' to 'measured' category and converting ore reserves from 'probable' to proven 'status'.
The work, overseen by the Rio Tinto-Sovereign Technical Committee, involves aircore, push tube, diamond core, and hand auger drilling. Sovereign expects to complete the resource upgrade by early 2025.
"Our infill drilling programme will target areas of Kasiya where we expect the first seven to eight years of production to come from," said Sovereign's managing director Frank Eagar.
"The programme design was overseen by the Rio Tinto-Sovereign Technical Committee, which again illustrates the benefits of the Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) partnership since their initial investment in July 2023."
Kasiya Project is estimated to host a resource base of 1.8 billion tonnes with 18 million tonnes of rutile at 1.01% and 23.4 million tonnes of graphite at 1.32%.
Sovereign wants to build a mine with a life of 25 years in two stages. Stage 1 will target 12 million tonnes per year, and Stage 2 aims for 24 million tonnes per year.