Trigon Metals Inc. has successfully conducted the first underground mining blast at its Kombat project, marking the beginning of operational training ahead of schedule.
The blast occurred on Thursday, 1 February 2024, at the Asis West shaft’s No. 1 level.
Trigon Metals Vice President of Operations, Fanie Müller, said the first underground blast represents a key step towards unlocking the full potential of the Kombat project and realising its strategic importance in the copper market.
“The significant milestone sets the stage for enhanced project economics as the company enters a new operational phase that is expected to exploit higher copper grades at depth as indicated by the resource statement and resource models which were reconfirmed through surface,” he said.
He said underground confirmatory drilling is an important step towards positioning Trigon as a key player in the copper market and facilitating the long-term sustainability and profitability of the Kombat Mine.
“The focus now is on safely mining the higher-grade ore from the upper levels of the Asis West shaft complex and building on the underground ramp-up profile over the next couple of months,” he said.
Namibian Businessman and local partner of Trigon Metals, Knowledge Katti, said they are confident that this early success sets the stage for a robust operational phase, leading them towards sustained growth and value creation for shareholders and the community of Kombat.
“We extend heartfelt congratulations to the entire team for their exceptional efforts in accelerating the commissioning process. This achievement is a testament to the commitment and proficiency of our Namibian personnel,” he added.
This comes as in 2023, the company initiated open-pit mining operations at the Kombat Mine.
The company recorded exceptional production from its Kombat Mine in October 2023, a month that saw the company successfully ship the first concentrate, totalling 101 tonnes, to its off-taker, IXM.
In 2024, the underground Phase 1 was set to recommence, targeting an average copper grade of 2.6% with a 10-year mine life.
Trigon Metals focuses on copper and silver holdings and operations in Namibia and Morocco.
