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Celsius improves recoveries of cobalt and copper at Opuwo

Celsius improves recoveries of cobalt and copper at Opuwo

17 August 2022 Announcement

We are pleased to announce we have received improved cobalt and copper recovery results from the ongoing metallurgical work program at our Opuwo Cobalt Project (“Opuwo”), which is held under our Namibian subsidiary Opuwo Cobalt Holdings (Pty) Ltd.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • First roasting and leaching test completed at Mintek Laboratories with encouraging results of 95% cobalt and 98% copper recovery from a concentrate
     
  • 36kg of Co-Cu mineral concentrate produced by Maelgwyn Mineral Services for further roasting & tank leach test work at Mintek Laboratories
     
  • Drilling has been completed to obtain metallurgical samples for further optimisation work – nine PQ holes for a total of 1,089m, producing 2 tonnes of fresh metallurgical samples for future test works
     
  • Work is continuing on a hydrometallurgical processing pathway

The metallurgical work program intends to examine and enhance the commercial viability of the Opuwo project through the application of tailored metallurgical processing. The Company is currently examining two downstream processing methods: a hydrometallurgical route and a roasting & tank leach route.

The preliminary roasting & tank leach test work results show recoveries up to 95% for cobalt and 98% for copper for this processing step. This is an improvement from the 2018 autoclave leaching test results with historical recoveries of 72.6% cobalt and 74.1% copper and demonstrates that Opuwo is amenable for simple roasting & tank leach downstream processing.

Celsius is undertaking further test work to delineate the roasting and tank leach parameters which may further improve cobalt recovery. The Company is also continuing to progress the test work for a hydrometallurgical downstream processing method. Samples for hydrometallurgical testing have now been dispatched to Australia so that test work can commence. It is anticipated that initial test results could be available by September 2022.

“It is encouraging to see that the Opuwo team has completed metallurgical drilling and is making good progress with its work program,” said Celsius Executive Chairman Mr. Martin Buckingham.

“The results from the initial roasting and tank leaching test work look very positive and have produced an upside in the project’s economics from the test work previously undertaken in 2018.

We look forward to seeing the results of the planned hydrometallurgical test work program in Australia in September 2022 to determine the preferred way forward in downstream ore processing.”

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