Koryx Copper Announces Transformative 2025 Drill and Study Program, Fast-Tracking the Development of the Haib Copper Project in Southern Namibia
Koryx Copper Inc.
Suite 888, 700 West Georgia Street,
Vancouver. BC, V7Y 1G5
Canada
Koryx Copper Announces Transformative 2025 Drill and Study Program,
Fast-Tracking the Development of the Haib Copper Project in Southern Namibia
Highlights
• Large-scale, C$20M technical program to be completed during 2025.
• Transforming Haib into a top-tier, high quality, low risk copper development project.
• Multi-phase, >55,000m drill program to be completed during 2025.
• Drilling underway with 3 drill rigs ramping up to 6 rigs and double shifting to maximize drilling rates.
• Phase 2 metallurgical test work underway, with results expected in Q1 2025.
• DRA Global Limited , an international engineering and project delivery group appointed as study
consultant to produce an updated PEA before Q3 2025.
• Study schedule remains on track to complete PFS by the end of 2025 and complete DFS in 2026.
• Mining and environmental baseline studies underway for permitting to commence Q3 2025.
• Large investor & sell-side analyst site visit to Haib confirmed for 1-2 February 2025
• Zambia exploration & work program planning ongoing – press release to follow
Vancouver, B.C., Canada – January 22, 2025 – Koryx Copper Inc. (“Koryx” or the "Company") (TSX-V: KRY) is
pleased to announce its 2025 exploration and project development strategy for its wholly-owned, advanced-
stage, large-scale and long-life open-pit Haib Copper Project (“Haib” or the “Project”) in southern Namibia.
This 2025 technical strategy comprises an intensive drill and study program, including more than 55,000m of
growth and quality improvement drilling, aiming to increase the size and grade of the Haib Mineral Resource
Estimate (“MRE”) as well as multiple technical, environmental and metallurgical studies . This program will
result in an updated Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”) and Pre-Feasibility Study (“PFS”) for Haib, both
to be published before the end of 2025.
This fast-tracked technical strategy of drilling, study, infrastructure and permitting activities represent s a
major step-change in the development of Haib and is geared towards the rapid development of the Project to
the bankability stage, with major permitting and all technical studies to be concluded by the end of 2026.
Heye Daun, Koryx Copper’s President and CEO commented: "We are very excited to have ended 2024 with a
strong treasury of more than C $17 million in cash, no liabilities and a clean share structure . With new
leadership and a top-tier technical team in place, we have hit the ground running and spent the latter part of
2024 preparing for and planning this transformative work program, which is already underway at Haib.
As part of the 2025 work program, we are planning to 1) execute the largest drill program at Haib since its
discovery, aiming to improve the grade and size of the mineral resource whilst 2) prov ing the economic
feasibility of a much larger conventional flotation concentrate process as well as subsequent heap leaching for
the lower grade material.
This work program will for the first time bring together all of the quality work that was completed historically
and combine it with the updated and much more detailed work which Koryx is carrying out this year, thereby
delivering an integrated Haib project approach with much larger planned copper production than was
contemplated historically. Under this scope Haib will p roduce both clean copper concentrate and refined
copper cathodes. Right-sizing and optimizing the Haib Project is what our 2025 work program will achieve.
Owing to its low altitude (500m amsl), its proximity to world -class infrastructure, and the very favorable
permitting and mining- friendly jurisdiction of Namibia, Haib has the genuine potential to become a high
quality, low-risk global copper development project. Given our track record of execution and value creation in
mining in Namibia, in addition to our blue-chip shareholder base, we believe we are perfectly placed to achieve
this during 2025 and beyond.”
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The updated PEA is designed to replace the outdated historical PEA from 2021 and to describe the scope of
the new Haib project, thereby serving as the basis for the mine permitting process (described further down).
This is to be followed up with a Definitive Feasibility Study (“DFS”) planned to be published before the end of
2026.
2025 Planning Objectives for Haib
Koryx’s vision is to turn Haib into Namibia’s next major mine development. This will require high -class
leadership, drive, innovation and technical expertise, coupled with significant funding. To achieve this, the
Company is aiming to fulfil the following key objectives during 2025:
• Reinforcing the team and e stablishing the infrastructure to execute a large -scale, multi-year drilling
and technical study program . The program will be completed by multiple local and international
service providers and overseen by Koryx’ own team of competent professionals, aiming to right -size
(grow) and optimize (improve quality) Haib and to fast -track the completion of a PFS by the end of
2025, followed by the completion of a DFS and mine permitting before the end of 2026.
• Significantly improve the quality of the MRE by increasing the mineral resource size and copper
equivalent grade.
• Proving the techno-economic feasibility of a conventional flotation concentrate process flow sheet for
the higher grade material, in parallel with an innovative leaching process for the lower grade material.
• This includes integrating the mine plan with the two parallel process flow sheets to maximiz e value
(LOM, NPV, annual copper production rate).
• De-risking and advancing the environmental and mine permitting, infrastructure, utilities and project
delivery aspects of the Project.
Led by a highly competent and experienced team who have worked together on Namibian projects for many
years, with a strong tr ack record of execution and value creation , the Koryx team is perfectly placed to
successfully execute on these objectives.
2025 Development Study Approach
The PEA will describe an integrated and enhanced process flowsheet for Haib, comprising flotation and
concentrate production for the higher-grade ROM material, and a hydrometallurgical process including heap
leaching and solvent extraction / electrowinning (SX/EW) for the lower grade ROM material.
As a part of the PEA , Koryx will evaluate alternative metallurgical process flow sheet s and carry out
infrastructure related trade-off studies. The Company is confident that a high degree of confidence can be
ascribed to the trade -off studies as the input data will be based on actual test results and/or benchmarked
data from similar projects.
The PEA will be followed up immediately by a PFS, aiming to right -size and optimize the project definition so
that the team can focus on engineering the unit processes and infrastructure requirements which would
generate the optimal economic outcomes for Haib.
A key aspect of the 2025 PEA is right- sizing the operation to optimise the life -of-mine (multi decade) whilst
maximizing copper production. Koryx is evaluating a processing plant throughput operating range of 15 to
25mtpa crushed material (run-of-mine). Applying industry average copper recovery factors, the project could
produce 50 – 100ktpa of copper (combination of copper contained in concentrate and refined copper cathode)
over a life of mine of 15 – 30 years.
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In developing a credible project implementation plan, Koryx will consider a staged implementation model
wherein the conventional comminution and flotation processing facilities will be constructed and operated as
Stage 1, followed by construction and operation of the leaching and hydrometallurgical facilities in Stage 2.
Phase 2 Drilling (Q1 2025) and Mineral Resource Planning for 2025
During 2024 the Company completed a small (3,500m), but highly successful Phase 1 drill program at Haib .
The program specifically targeted higher grade, more structurally controlled areas of the Haib mineralisation
with inclined drilling, which are not typical for a porphyry-type of deposit, and which had been missed by Rio
Tinto’s prior vertical drilling. These areas were previously identified by Koryx geologists through extensive
fieldwork campaigns and were successfully traced through the 2024 Phase 1 drill program.
This 2024 drilling culminated in the publication of a new MRE for Haib, reflecting a 1 3% increase in Cu grade
(from 0.31 to 0.35% Cu, refer to the press release dated September 10, 2024), and was immediately followed
up with a larger Phase 2 drill program.
The objectives of the Phase 2 program are as follows:
• Extending and further targeting the structurally controlled, higher grade mineralisation which was
identified and drilled during the 2024 Phase 1 drill program.
• Drilling and assaying for by-products, specifically molybdenum and gold, which both have the potential
to be recovered in the updated mineral processing flowsheet now envisaged for Haib. The aim is to
generate a sufficient sample density to be able to reflect the byproducts in the next MRE update,
thereby assisting in further improving the Haib Cu equivalent grade instead of reporting just a pure Cu
grade for the Haib mineralisation, as was done previously.
• Refining the geological model wireframes and improving the resolution of waste, low grade and high
grade interfaces through in-fill drilling of the current 150m x 150m drill grid.
The Phase 2 drill program which commenced in November 2024 comprises 8,200m of which 3,550m was
completed by the end of 2024. The complete program is due to be completed during Q1 2025 with assay
results to be reported throughout Q1 2025.
Phase 3 and 4 Drilling (Q2 and Q3 2025)
Planning for the follow -on Phase 3 drill program (29,000m) has been completed and drilling will commence
immediately after the completion of the Phase 2 program late in Q1 2025. This drilling has been planned to
further extend the higher grade areas (10,000m) plus infill and mineral resource extension drilling (19,000m).
A further 20,000m of Phase 4 infill drilling (reducing average drill spacing from 150m down to 75m) will be
required to convert at least 80% of the mineral resource to the “Indicated” category. This drilling is expected
to be completed during Q3 of 2025, thereby allowing for inclusion into the planned PFS to be published at the
end of 2025. This will likely also fulfil the minimum confidence level required for the follow -on DFS study to
be published at the end of 2026, although a significant quantum of additional infill and expansion drilling will
likely be completed before then.
The increase in planned drill metres has resulted in 3 additional rigs being mobilised to site in Q1 2025 and the
Company expects to have 5 of the 6 rigs planned on site by the end of February 2025, with at least 3 of them
on double shift operations, aiming to maximize drilling rates to achieve the targeted PEA and PFS publication
dates from mid and late 2025 respectively.
The figures below show the planned drilling for Phase 2, 3 & 4. Phase 3 drilling is expected to be completed at
half year and Phase 4 drilling by the end of 2025.
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Figure 1: Plan view showing historical drill collar locations and drill collars for Koryx actual 2024 and planned 2025 drilling
Figure 2: Long section showing the planned future drill programs. Detailed planning of the extension drilling program as
part of Phase 2 is currently underway and target areas are indicated by yellow stars
Pit Shell delimiting
the Oct 2024 MRE
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Metallurgical Testwork Including Innovative Technologies
Koryx’s metallurgical test work campaign is well advanced and builds on the high-quality work done by others
since 1996, which built on the exploration activities completed by Rio Tinto and Teck Resources since the
1970’s and 1990’s respectively.
The objective of Koryx’s metallurgical testing is to a) demonstrate the feasibility of a conventional processing
route (crushing, grinding, flotation), producing a high quality clean concentrate from the higher grade material
at Haib (>0.275% Cu) and b) demonstrating the feasibility of a heap-leach processing route to treat the lower
grade material (<0.275% Cu) in parallel with, but staged after the conventional flotation process.
There are several innovative and relatively novel technologies with laboratory test, site demonstration plant
or small- scale commercial references , that have the potential to be applicable to the Haib mineralised
material. In this context, preliminary discussions have taken place with Mintek, CSIRO, Jetti, Ceibo, Nuton and
MJOI in respect of the planned leach tests, and we expect to test at least two alternatives with the assistance
of the technology suppliers and test laboratories as well as independent consultants specialising in
chalcopyrite leach processes.
These technologies are relevant because of their ability to overcome the passivation challenge associated with
leaching of the chalcopyrite mineral which is the dominant form of copper mineralisation at Haib. The Koryx
study team has also evaluated the potential for bacterial heap leaching with or without the addition of catalytic
reagents, as well as nitrate or chloride based chemical heap leach processes.
Composited borehole core samples for a total of about 4 tonnes of material have been selected. These samples
exhibit a range of copper , gold and molybdenum grades as well as some variation in mineralogical
composition.
Samples amounting to about 2 tonnes have already been despatched to Maelgwyn in Johannesburg for
minerals processing tests on materials containing above 0.275% Cu. Testwork has begun to confirm or enhance
the results of laboratory and pilot tests carried out in 1996, with the following tasks to be performed in the
laboratory:
• Crushing and milling tests to support comminution circuit modelling.
• Mineralogical examination for pre-concentrate, concentrate and tailings samples.
• Chemical analyses to include copper, molybdenum and gold.
• Bulk sorting tests and simulations of both low- and high-grade mineralisation, to enable modelling of
pre-concentration after primary crushing.
• Dense medium separation (“DMS”) tests to enable modelling of pre-concentration
• Coarse particle flotation with and pre -concentration test aiming potentia lly significantly reduce
tonnage to regrind and cleaner flotation.
• Conventional milling and flotation tests of fresh sulphide and oxide/transitional material.
• Dewatering and transportability tests of final flotation concentrate and tailings
• Geochemical column leach tests of low grade, waste rock and filtered tailings to determine potential
for acid generation and acid rock drainage.
• Geotechnical tests of filtered tailings to confirm likely stability.
• Acid heap leaching of oxide/transitional material samples.
In addition, about 2 tonnes of low grade samples (containing 0.15% to 0.35% Cu) are being collected in Q1
2025 for hydrometallurgical variability tests , likely to take place at multiple laboratories still to be selected .
These are expected to include:
• Crushing tests to confirm differences in physical characteristics from higher grade material.
• Mineralogical and chemical analyses of material.
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• Bacterial acclimatisation, compatibility and culture development tests.
• Bacterial heap leach tests using 1m or 6m diameter columns for about 9 months.
• Chemical heap leach tests in columns, using 2 -3 different commercial techniques intended to
overcome chalcopyrite passivation.
• Geotechnical and geochemical tests of residue from the column leach tests.
As is the case for milling and flotation of higher grade mineralisation, successful historical hydrometallurgical
test work has been carried out on low grade mineralisation samples. The new tests listed above will be scoped
and designed to supplement and enhance the earlier work. The aim will be to generate results that will support
both the PEA and the PFS technical and financial evaluations of Haib.
Trade-off Studies and Additional Technical Assessments
At this early stage of this type of mining and processing project, there are many possible alternatives in each
link of the value chain. It is rarely immediately clear which of these alternatives will provide a combination of
low technical risk and high value, especially when the lin ks are combined into the entire chain. At the PEA
stage of project development, it is relatively inexpensive to consider the techno -economic potential of most
alternatives. We plan to do this, with a subsequent significant reduction in the number of altern atives to be
considered in more depth when the project proceeds to the PFS stage.
The metallurgical test results will be used to support or confirm the expected results of the following process
trade-off studies:
• Comparison of different pre-concentration flowsheets including rock sorting, DMS and coarse particle
flotation.
• Assessment of optimal crushing and milling configuration.
• Concentrator plant capacity revenue versus cost trade-offs.
• Technical comparison of alternative leach processes to recover copper from chalcopyrite
mineralisation.
• Techno-economic comparison of sale or toll treatment of flotation concentrate versus on-site leaching
and refining of concentrate with copper metal being transported to market.
The following additional studies and assessments will be completed, aimed at firming up important project
aspects and assumptions which have previously not been addressed.
• Site assessment for alternative metallurgical plant location including civils geotechnical evaluation and
impact analysis.
• Mining and processing value chain optimisation, to identify how best to increase head grade and
revenue in early years of production.
• Stockpile optimisation (strategic and tactical use of low grade stockpiles)
• Process equipment and tailings storage facility ( “TSF”) comparisons, based on thickened, paste and
filtered tailings.
• Cost and modes of transport for concentrate from mine to customer/smelter.
• Electrical power supply and self- generation using renewable energy sources and battery storage
technology.
• Consideration of alternative water supply sources with conceptual design and costing.
Site Environmental and Hydrogeological Studies
Environmental studies specific to the Haib area began in 2024 to evaluate the wider area which is being
targeted for development. A screening study has confirmed that there are no fatal flaws impeding the project
development and have made recommendations for specialist studies to take place during 2025. Some of the
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studies will commence as the results of certain technical trade-off studies listed above provide more detail on
the specific mine design:
• Conceptual site wide water balance and stormwater management plan for the proposed pit and
infrastructure areas, including sizing of key cost areas.
• Specialist baseline studies to include;
o Biodiversity specialist field assessment
o Aquatic specialist study to focus on riparian environments including the Orange River proximal
to the site.
o Hydrogeology ground water modelling
o Geochemistry study to utilise tailings material from ongoing met lab testwork, stockpile
materials and waste rock dump material determined by mine planning.
o Update to Archaeological study completed in 2024 which will confirm specific infrastructure
footprint.
o Air quality and noise specialist study will be performed at chosen receptor sites to create a
pre-project baseline.
o Social specialist study will investigate key areas to be addressed to inform IFC requirements.
Exploration and Studies Schedule and Timelines
The Haib project team will continue to fast track the development studies throughout 2025 with the intension
to update the PEA by the second half of the year and announce the PFS by the end of the year.
Figure 3: Drilling, Studies & Permitting Activity Schedule for 2025-2027
This will put the project in a strong position to execute the DFS in 2026 and progress to Front End Engineering
and Design (“FEED”) in conjunction with project financing in 2027.
Budget
The budgeting process is ongoing and is expected to be concluded before the end of January 2025 . It is
anticipated that this work program will cost up to C $20 million, which is expected to be covered with Koryx
current treasury plus expected warrant exercises between now and the end of the year. This budget is
expected to be approved at Koryx next Board of Directors meeting to be held before the end of January 2025.
Activity Q1 2025 Q2 2025 Q3 2025 Q4 2025
Phase 2 & 3 resource drilling
Phase 2 flotation test work
Power & water supply alternatives
Baseline hydrology assessment
Conceptual process design
Cut off grade optimisation
Updated PEA report
Application for Mining Licence (ML)
Phase 4 resource drilling
Variability milling & flotation testwork
Conceptual hydrogeological model
Bioleach tests & novel technologies
Pit & Civils Geotech studies
Detailed EISA specialist studies
Prefeasibility study announced
Application for Environmental Clearance
Definitive Feasibility Study commences
Expected ML & ECC approval
FEED study
Secondary Permiting
Financing
2026 2027
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Qualified Person
Mr. Dean Richards Pr.Sci.Nat., MGSSA – BSc. (Hons) Geology is the Qualified Person for the Haib Copper
Project and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release and is a
registered Professional Natural Scientist with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (Pr.
Sci. Nat. No. 400190/08) and a Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101.
About Koryx Copper Inc.
Koryx Copper Inc. is a Canadian copper development Company focused on advancing the 100% -owned Haib
Copper Project in Namibia whilst also building a portfolio of copper exploration licenses in Zambia. Haib is a
large and advanced (PEA -stage) copper/molybdenum porphyry deposit in southern Namibia with a long
history of exploration and project development by multiple operators. More than 70,000m of drilling has been
conducted at Haib since the 1970’s with significant exploration programs led by companies including
Falconbridge (1964), Rio Tinto (1975) and Teck (2014). Teck remains a strategic and supportive shareholder.
In addition to extensive drilling and metallurgical testing various technical studies have been completed at
Haib to date. Haib has a current mineral resource of 414Mt @ 0.35% Cu for 1,459mt of contained copper in
the Indicated category and 345Mt @ 0.33% Cu for 1136Mt of contained copper in the Inferred category (0.25%
Cu cut-off). Mineralisation at Haib is typical of a porphyry copper deposit . Porphyry copper deposits are a
major global source of copper with the best -known examples being concentrated around the Pacific Rim,
North America and South America.
Haib is one of a few examples of a Paleoproterozoic porphyry copper deposit in the world and one of only two
in southern Africa (both in Namibia). Due to its age, the deposit has been subjected to multiple metamorphic
and deformation events, but still retains many of the classic mineralisation and alteration features typical of
these deposits. The mineralisation is dominantly chalcopyrite with minor bornite and chalcocite present and
only minor secondary copper minerals at surface due to the arid environment.
Further details are available on the Company's website at https://koryxcopper.com and under the Company's
profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
More information is available by contacting the Company:
Julia Becker
Corporate Communications
+1-604-785-0850