(Alliance News) – Marula Mining PLC announced on Thursday that the South African Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has accepted an application for prospecting rights from Marula’s wholly-owned subsidiary, South African Lithium and Tantulum Mining Pty Ltd.
Marula, a London-based mining company focused on South Africa, said the new permit will cover 7,219 hectares of land. This area borders Marula’s Blesberg lithium and tantalum deposit and the Northern Cape Lithium and Tungsten Ltd project, for which Marula already has permits.
After securing this new prospecting right, Marula will hold more than 23,270 hectares of licensed land in the Namaqualand district of South Africa. The company described the region as “highly promising for multiple battery and critical metals mining opportunities.”
“This new exploration right will expand the company’s footprint around its growing Blesberg operations, underscoring its commitment to unlocking value in the Northern Cape’s battery metals and critical metals capabilities,” said Jason Brewer, President and CEO of Marula Mining.
In addition to lithium, the company is targeting tantalum, niobium, beryllium and tungsten, as well as feldspar, mica, quartz and other derived minerals. To prioritize the region, however, Marula canceled a memorandum of understanding concluded in 2023 to acquire 70% of the Korridor 21 deposit, located around 30 km west of Blesberg.
The DMRE must make a decision within 197 days of Marula submitting its final application, in this case in the fourth quarter of 2024. Before approval, Marula must consult with local landowners and register the application with the Ministry of Water, which is expected to be done in the current quarter.
Also this quarter, Marula intends to appoint a new mining contractor for opencast operations, install the Tomra XRT 1200 ore sorter and complete negotiations with a China-based electric battery manufacturer . The unnamed collaborator is in talks with Marula about a lithium acid leaching plant, to produce a lithium-based intermediate product that will be used in lithium batteries and other “high-value” items .
Marula shares were down 0.3% at 4.13 pence each on Thursday afternoon in London.
By Holly Munks, Alliance News reporter
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