240228002889 - Ongoing exploration and prospecting of Base & Precious Metals on Exclusive Prospecting Licences (EPLs) 6011 and 5772.

The proponents: Manmar Investments 136 (Pty) Ltd and Ongombo Mine Pty Ltd (previously Manmar Investments 129 (Pty) Ltd) have mineral rights over Exclusive Prospecting Licences (EPL 6011) and (EPL 5772), respectively for prospecting of Base and Precious Metals. The two EPLs are located adjacent to each other, thus sharing a common environment in terms of biophysical and socio-economic settings. The two proponents are subsidiaries of Shali Mining Group and exploration programmes on both EPL have been and will continue being conducted by a single team under the auspicious of Shali Mining Group. As such, the two EPLs were issued with a combined Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) on 2021-02-24 and expired on 2024-02-24. Exploration activities on EPL 5772 was deemed successful and this led to the application of Mining Licence (ML240) which will result in the establishment of Ongombo Mine Project. As such, the proponents intend to continue with the less invasive exploration activities on the remaining part of EPL 5772 and carry out a more advanced exploration programme on EPL 6011. The need to renew the expired ECC is to ensure that the proposed exploration activities continue being undertaken in an environmentally friendly and sustainably manner.