Savannah Resources has submitted three applications to the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy for mining leases for the Mutamba heavy mineral sands project.
The three applications, which cover 417.32 km², comprise the Jangamo, Dongane or Ravene and Chilubane deposits.
“We believe our timing means we are well placed to take advantage of the increasing global demand for titanium feedstocks,” said David Archer, Savannah Resources Chief Executive Officer.
Archer said submission of the mining lease applications was “a key milestone and a great start to 2018”.
The leases are generally awarded for a 25-year term and can be renewed and the Ministry has six months from the date of submission to respond to the applications.
Archer said the application was the final formal step in the process of securing long-term mining leases over globally significant deposits of heavy mineral sands.
The step also follows the commissioning of the pilot processing plant in the fourth quarter of 2017, which will be used to produce concentrate as part of the prefeasibility study, which is currently under way.
Located in the Gaza and Inhambane provinces, Mutamba is being developed in a consortium with diversified mining major Rio Tinto.
