• Australia’s Cobre Limited has launched the environmental impact study for its in-situ copper recovery (ISCR) pilot plant at the Ngami project in Botswana.

• Laboratory tests have shown 82% metal recovery, exceeding industrial production thresholds.

• The project supports Botswana’s economic diversification strategy as the country reduces reliance on diamond exports.

Australian mining company Cobre Limited announced on Wednesday, October 15, the start of the environmental impact assessment for its in-situ copper recovery (ISCR) pilot plant at the Ngami project in Botswana. The study follows the approval of the company’s work plan by the Ministry of Environment and opens the way for the construction permitting process.

Cobre said the environmental study marks a critical step in its phased approach to developing the Ngami copper deposit. The project is part of Botswana’s broader push to diversify its economy amid the slowdown in the diamond sector, the country’s traditional growth engine and leading export.

The ongoing assessment builds on a series of technical trials that have already confirmed the feasibility of the ISCR process. Laboratory tests indicated an average copper recovery rate of 82%, surpassing the levels required for commercial-scale production.

Cobre Managing Director Adam Wooldridge described the ministry’s approval as “a key milestone in de-risking the permitting process for the Ngami ISCR project” and said it “provides a clear framework for advancing the different workstreams.”

Cobre is betting on in-situ recovery technology to accelerate development across its Botswana copper portfolio, which includes the Ngami, Okavango, and Kitlanya projects. The method involves extracting metal directly from underground deposits through chemical leaching, reducing surface disturbance and costs compared to conventional mining.

According to the initial resource estimate published in August 2025, the Ngami deposit contains 11.5 million tonnes of mineral resources grading 0.52% copper, equivalent to about 60,300 tonnes of contained copper. The company plans to continue exploration in the coming months, with potential resource upgrades expected.

This article was initially published in French by Emiliano Tossou

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum