Akora Resources commences key activities in preparation for PFS at Bekisopa

Akora Resources (ASX: AKO) has commenced a number of key elements in its preparations in the lead-up to commencing a pre-feasibility study (PFS) at its Bekisopa iron ore project in Madagascar.

The company is seeking further key data via a new direct shipping iron ore (DSO) infill drilling campaign underway at the Bekisopa Northern and Central Zones.

It has also begun important environmental impact assessment studies and community consultations as part of its plans for the pre-feasibility study for the project.

Update from the CEO

Managing director and chief executive officer, Paul Bibby, said the infill drilling program will include 65 drill pads on a 50-metre by 50-metre grid over a 6-kilometre strike length in the Northern and Central Zones of the Bekisopa iron ore project.

To date, the company has completed 13 of the 65 diamond drill holes, with a 19 metre average drill hole depth so far in the Northern Zone

“Bekisopa 2023 direct shipping iron ore infill drilling is well advanced potentially adding more quality high-grade DSO iron ore tonnes to the 5.5 million tonnes already announced in July 2023 from just the Southern Zone,” Mr Bibby said.

“Community consultation has commenced, and early feedback is supportive and encouraging. The consultation project and weather station are important steps for progressing onto the pre-feasibility study once the WAI scoping study report is delivered.”

“I am visiting Bekisopa with our new Director, Matt Gill, in the coming weeks. Commencing at the port of Toliara, we will then drive to Bekisopa for community meetings, then a site visit. On returning to Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, we will have meetings with the mining ministry, engineering firms and associates.”

Drilling campaign and future plans

A follow-up to the successful 2022 DSO infill drilling campaign and the recently released iron ore mineral resource estimate update for the Bekisopa Southern Zone, the new infill drilling is initially targeting the Northern Zone, before the focus turns to the Central Zone for a total of 850 drilled metres.

The information will provide important information for the Bekisopa PFS which is expected to commence later this year following the completion of a scoping study which is due in October.

The results of the community consultation and environmental impact assessment review will also be included in the compilation of the PFS.

An environmental survey will also be performed across the Bekisopa tenement area to establish a reference point for future studies.

A weather monitoring station is being installed to continuously capture temperature, wind and rainfall data over the next 12 plus months which will be incorporated into the PFS.

On completion of the DSO infill drilling, several deeper monitoring drill holes will be completed to obtain geophysical and water table measurements to be incorporated into the PFS.

Southern Zone DSO resource upgrade

In mid-July, Akora revealed significant tonnage increases in an updated mineral resource estimate for the Southern zone at Bekisopa.

The new estimate included 5.54 million tonnes of indicated and inferred resource at 60.35% iron, for a 34% uplift of 4.42 million tonnes indicated resource at 60.9% iron, all at a 58% iron cut-off grade.

The results included a 34 million tonne high-grade “green steel” resource grading 45.3% iron, at 58% davis tube recovery level delivering a 68.7% iron concentrate at 75 microns.