Connected Minerals launches drilling at Etango North-East and Swakopmund uranium projects in Namibia

Connected Minerals (ASX: CML) has taken the next step in its strategic focus on exploration and potential development of its portfolio of assets in Namibia with the commencement of drilling at the Etango North-East uranium project.

The company recently appointed well-regarded local contractor Hammerstein Drilling for drilling programs at the Etango North-East and Swakopmund projects.

The program will comprise 36 reverse circulation holes for approximately 3,050 metres—of which around 2,600m will be at Etango North-East and approximately 450m at Swakopmund.

High priority targets

Drilling at Etango North-East will test a number of high priority targets the company identified in its rock-chip sampling program from December 2024.

The success of that program and further detailed work in the field led Connected to expand its previously proposed drilling program there.

Connected’s drilling at the Swakopmund project – for which it received an environmental clearance certificate in January – will focus on targets identified in a recent horizontal-loop electromagnetic survey.

Clearance granted

Located in Namibia’s most prolific uranium-producing region, the Swakopmund project covers 125 sq km in area.

It sits along trend to Orano’s Trekkopje and Klein Trekkopje deposits, which boast 340 million tonnes at 140 parts per million uranium.

Connected believes Swakopmund has the potential for calcrete-hosted uranium deposits within paleo-channels running off nearby “hot” granites.

Prospective targets

Connected has identified a series of prospective targets located in the central and south-eastern areas of the licence and has secured all of the permits it requires to commence the drilling program.

“Our initial exploration work at Etango North-East and Swakopmund has been highly encouraging and now that drilling is underway, we are set to establish a much stronger understanding of the uranium potential at both projects,” managing director and chief executive officer Warrick Clent said.

“Our progress to date has been pleasing and we look forward to advancing exploration further to deliver shareholder value.”