Ongwe Minerals Inc. has mobilised a reverse circulation (RC) drill rig to begin its inaugural bedrock sampling campaign at the Belmont Gold Prospect near Khorixas, marking the official start of its 2026 exploration programme in Namibia.
The announcement follows the company’s completion of its reverse takeover (RTO) and the commencement of trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker symbol “OGW”.
Ongwe has budgeted 6,000 metres of RC drilling to define bedrock gold targets at the Belmont and Manga prospects during the first half of 2026. Of this, 4,000 metres are planned for Belmont and 2,000 metres for Manga, with flexibility to expand the programme if required.
The work is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2026 and will feed into a larger diamond drilling campaign scheduled for the second half of the year.
“Now that the RTO has been completed and Ongwe has commenced trading on the TSXV, we have launched our much-anticipated bedrock sampling programme at the Belmont Prospect. Bedrock sampling is an exploration tool that was instrumental in the 2019 discovery of the 3.1Moz Twin Hills gold deposit by Osino Resources. Scout drilling at Belmont in 2024 provided proof of high-grade mineralisation beneath the surface calcrete, and the current campaign aims to define this mineralisation into drill-ready targets for the second half of the year,” said Ongwe Chief Executive Officer David Underwood.
In parallel with drilling, Ongwe has restarted an extensive regional soil sampling campaign across its Omatjete licences, including areas along strike from and surrounding the Manga Prospect. Approximately 10,000 soil samples are planned across the three project areas at 200-metre line and sample spacing.
The programme will test the strike extent of regional structures, including extensions of the Okondeka Fault Zone east of Manga. Soil sampling will be supported by detailed geological mapping and rock-chip sampling, with initial analysis conducted using the company’s in-house portable XRF laboratory before selected samples are submitted for gold assays.
“Once the campaign at Belmont is completed, we will move the rig to Omatjete to better define the Manga Gold Prospect. We are equally excited about the large-scale regional soil sampling programme underway at Omatjete, which is aimed at testing the strike extent of the Okondeka Fault Zone, which hosts both the Kokoseb and Manga discoveries,” Underwood said.
To support increased exploration activity, Ongwe has expanded its technical and operational team, appointing additional geological and field staff to manage higher sampling volumes, analysis and data flow.
The company has also strengthened its corporate function with the appointment of a financial manager in anticipation of accelerated exploration expenditure through 2026.
“In preparation for a significantly increased level of activity across our exploration programmes, we have strengthened our technical and operational capabilities. This includes the appointment of additional geological and field staff to support the anticipated rise in sampling, analysis and data flow. In parallel, we have expanded our corporate function with the addition of a financial manager as we move into a period of accelerated exploration expenditure expected through 2026,” he said.
Ongwe Minerals is a Canadian-listed gold exploration company focused on discovering and advancing new gold systems in Namibia.
The company’s current focus remains on advancing its Omatjete and Khorixas projects within the north-west Damara gold belt as it seeks to define new bedrock gold targets and expand its exploration footprint in Namibia.
