REG - Arkle Resources PLC - Company Updates

Arkle ResourcesAnnouncement

23/02/2026 07:00

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RNS Number : 9911T  Arkle Resources PLC  23 February 2026

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23 February 2026

Arkle Resources PLC

("Arkle" or the "Company")

Company Updates

 

Recent Acquisition Places Uranium at the

Centre of Arkle's Strategy - With Exploration to Begin Imminently

 

Arkle Resources PLC (LSE:ARK), the energy metals explorer with a key focus on
uranium, is pleased to provide an update on its strategy and project
portfolio.

In January 2026, Arkle completed a transformative acquisition of four uranium
exploration licences in Namibia's Erongo Region. As a result, Arkle now
uniquely offers investors uranium discovery exposure in one of Africa's key
uranium belts, proximal to some of the world's largest uranium producers.

The Company's portfolio comprises complementary metals which are essential for
the generation and storage of clean energy - uranium, lithium and zinc - in
the premier mining jurisdictions of Namibia, neighbouring Botswana, and
Ireland.

Portfolio Summary - Priority Projects

Uranium in Namibia

Poised to Imminently Commence Funded Exploration Programme on Shallow
Prospects Adjacent to Major Projects in the World's Third Largest Uranium
Producing Country

 

Arkle's projects are situated in prime acreage in one of Africa's key uranium
belts.

Highlights

·    Four 85%-held Exclusive Prospecting Licences ("EPLs") in the Erongo
Region covering 540 km²

·    EPLs are adjacent to three major uranium projects

·    2025 exploration identified significant uranium anomalies on all four
licences with surficial, easy-to-explore targets

·    Namibia is a recognised tier-one supplier to global utilities and is
the world's third largest uranium producer

·    Arkle's technical team has experience at Rössing, Langer Heinrich,
Forsys and Cameco

Close Proximity to Large Deposits

The four EPLs cover prime acreage in one of Africa's key uranium belts. This
standout uranium region contains ~1.2 Blb U₃O₈ in Measured and Indicated
Resources and ~235 Mlb U₃O₈ in Inferred Resources. The region has produced
> 350 Mlb of U₃O₈ in the last 45 years.

Arkle's EPLs 8995 and 8290 are contiguous to the Trekkopje deposit, one of the
most significant calcrete-hosted uranium deposits globally, currently under
assessment by Orano for start-up.

EPL 8298 is contiguous to the Marenica deposit which recently reported a
doubling of resource grade.

EPL 7986 is contiguous to the Rössing uranium mine, one of the world's
largest alaskite-hosted uranium deposits, which has been mined since 1976 and
is still producing over 6 Mlb per annum U₃O₈.

Work to Date on Arkle's EPLs

Multiple geochemical and radiometric (at 200m-line-spacing dataset) anomalies
have been identified on the EPLs, with 2025 grab samples assaying up to 3,855
ppm U₃O₈. Additional potential for alaskite-hosted deposits has been
identified on the EPLs.

A sampling programme was carried out in 2025 comprising 178 samples taken from
small pits dug to depths of 0.35 to 0.5 m. Highlights from the programme
included:

EPL 8995 and 8290

·    Uranium in calcrete values up to 2,782 ppm U₃O₈ - surficial
uranium confirmed in all areas surveyed

·    Uranium in alaskite values up to 3,855 ppm U₃O₈ - strong
indications of the presence of basement highs and potential alaskite
mineralisation surrounding Trekkopje's large paleochannel systems which may
extend into Arkle's tenements

EPL 7986

·    Uranium in alaskite values up to 2,923 ppm U₃O₈ - adjacent to
Rössing and located on margins of the same domal structure and mineralisation

Next Steps

Arkle is now fully funded to carry out the following priority work:

Phase 1 (commencing imminently):

Initial exploration work will include four lines of horizontal loop
electromagnetic survey ("HLEM") across potential paleochannels on EPL 8995 and
an airborne radiometric and magnetic survey of licences EPL 8995, EPL 8290 and
EPL 8298, as well as mapping and downhole logging of historical drill holes on
the licences.

Arkle has signed a contract with Xcalibur Smart Mapping, a leader in the
airborne and mapping geophysics industry, to undertake a substantial airborne
survey of more than 12,000 line-kms at 50 m-line-spacing for extensive target
generation. The Company is in the process of obtaining the necessary aviation
permits to conduct the survey and expects to begin imminently alongside the
HLEM. Further updates will be provided as these workstreams progress.

Phase 2 (commencing H2 2026):

Initial exploration work will focus on targets developed from Phase 1 and will
include detailed mapping (with potential for further geophysical surveys),
additional sampling, and up to 4,000 metres of RC drilling.

Initial work on EPL 7986 will focus on mapping and developing a model of the
alaskite outcrop.

A successful 2026 drill programme would be followed by detailed infill
drilling, leading to the estimation of a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate in
H1 2027.

Lithium in Botswana

Indications of an Extensive Brine System in One of Africa's Most Prospective
Settings for Lithium Brine Deposits

 

Arkle holds 100% of three Prospecting Licences ("PLs") in the Makagdikgadi
Salt Pans covering 1,612 km².

Highlights

·    Geophysical surveys of PL 148 and PL 075 carried out in 2024
confirmed the presence of continuous thick brine-bearing conducting layers
with some thin conducting layers within the top 5m from the surface

·    The thickness of the more conducting layers at depth ranged from
approximately 30 m to 60 m

·    Geochemical sampling in 2024 identified lithium in all samples
tested, alongside significant magnesium grades, establishing the prospectivity
of the licensed areas

·    Further geophysical surveys conducted in Q4 2025 now also indicate
the presence of brines to depths of approximately 25 metres on PL 1716

·    Further exploration and drilling is planned to assess lithium brine
concentrations at depth

·    Environmental Impact Assessment ("EIA") is underway as a prerequisite
to drilling

·    Botswana consistently ranked among the world's top destinations for
mining investment

Work to Date

Geophysics and soil sampling across the licence package in 2024-2025 indicate
brines to shallow depths across a large area, with confirmed lithium in
samples.

There are also significant grades of magnesium that may be economically
extracted as an additional product under the process of Direct Lithium
Extraction ("DLE") where it is now possible to extract 100% of the magnesium
from the brines as a second income stream.

The initial stages of the EIA have been completed with the full study targeted
for completion by June 2026.

Next Steps

The scale of the Makgadikgadi licence package and the consistency of brine
indications across all three licences highlight the potential for a large
brine system.

Accurate lithium content can only be determined by drilling shallow holes down
to 30 m to obtain brine samples for DLE.

Upon completion of the EIA and receipt of the necessary regulatory approvals,
the Company intends to design an initial drilling programme to test brine
aquifers across priority targets.

Such a programme (subject to further funding) would be expected to include the
collection of brine samples for laboratory analysis to determine lithium
grades, magnesium content and impurity profiles, together with hydrogeological
testing to assess aquifer permeability, porosity and brine flow
characteristics.

Further work, subject to funding and the results of the sampling programme,
would also evaluate potential processing routes, including the suitability of
DLE technologies.

Zinc in Ireland

Material Stake in Advanced Stage High-Grade Deposit in Europe's Most
Prospective Zinc District

 

Arkle holds a 22.36% joint venture interest in the Stonepark zinc project in
County Limerick, alongside Group Eleven Resources Corp (TSX-V:ZNG) ("Group
Eleven"), in which Glencore is a ~14% shareholder. Stonepark is formed of
seven contiguous prospecting licences covering an area of 201 km².

Highlights

·    Inferred Mineral Resource of 5.1 Mt grading 11.3% combined zinc and
lead (8.7% Zn, 2.6% Pb) - deposit remains open along and across strike

·    Adjacent to Glencore's Pallas Green zinc project, one of the world's
largest undeveloped zinc-lead deposits at 45.4 Mt

·    Higher grade and shallower (190-395 m depth) than the neighbouring
Pallas Green deposit (8.4% Zn+Pb)

·    Potential for 'green zinc' due to clean metallurgy, proximity to
European smelters, and wind power capacity

A Proven Zinc District

Ireland is ranked number one in the world for zinc discovered per square
kilometre. It is home to some of the world's largest and highest-grade zinc
deposits, including Tara (120 Mt+ mined since 1977, Europe's largest zinc
mine), Lisheen (22.3 Mt at 11.7% Zn), and Galmoy (8Mt at 12% Zn).

Six zinc mines have been permitted and operated over the past 60 years, and
every major Irish zinc discovery has been profitably mined. Majors active in
Ireland include Boliden and Glencore.

Work to Date

The joint venture's thesis is that the Carrickittle area within the Stonepark
project may host a "mirror image" of the mineralising system that created
Glencore's adjacent Pallas Green deposit on the opposite side of the Limerick
Volcanic Complex.

In 2022, drilling at Carrickittle West intersected the first major fault
structure directly drilled in the Limerick region - a fault with 150 m of
vertical displacement and zinc mineralisation on both sides.

Three follow-up holes were drilled on Stonepark ground in late 2024, totalling
1,372 m at depths of 350-550 m. Results released in 2025 demonstrated
proximity to strong mineralisation.

Next Steps

Group Eleven's recent focus has been on nearby exploration at their Ballywire
prospect (on a wholly owned Group Eleven licence, southeast of Stonepark)
indicating high-grade zinc-lead-silver mineralisation over a 2.6 km trend that
remains open in all directions.

Group Eleven plans step-out drilling around the known resource at Stonepark as
well as a follow-up drill programme on the Carrickittle West prospect (within
the Stonepark licence) which is being designed. In June 2025, Group Eleven's
Chief Executive Officer stated he regards Carrickittle West as one the best
drill targets in Ireland.

Rory Harding, Arkle's newly appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer,
commented:

"Arkle's strategic shift in emphasis to uranium in Namibia is complete,
supported by highly prospective and complementary energy metals projects in
Botswana and Ireland.

Our Namibian uranium licences, which now take centre stage, feature shallow,
easy-to-explore targets near the Trekkopje, Marenica, and Rössing deposits,
while our Botswana lithium projects show extensive brine systems and our Irish
zinc project offers significant upside potential to an existing resource.

With a fully funded uranium exploration programme due to commence imminently,
Arkle now provides unique and near-term exposure to discoveries in a prolific
uranium region. Indeed, the Company is now one of the few London-listed
uranium explorers and our vision is to become a pre-eminent uranium
exploration and development vehicle across Africa's key uranium belts.

I believe Arkle's portfolio represents a compelling energy metals exploration
investment case, with existing resources underpinning the Company's valuation
and considerable exploration upside - this is an extremely exciting time to be
an Arkle shareholder."

Additional Projects

Arkle holds interests in the following two other projects which are not
currently core to the Company's forward development strategy.

Lithium & Tungsten in Ireland

The Company holds 100% of four Prospecting Licences in Aughrim, County
Wicklow, proximal to the Leinster Granite, where a large zone of
lithium-bearing pegmatites and aplites has been discovered by the
International Lithium Corp-Ganfeng Lithium Co joint venture.

In 2023, Arkle announced the discovery of lithium-bearing pegmatites on its
licences, with one assay returning 0.09% Li₂O. Additional samples returned
elevated levels of beryllium, tungsten, tin, and copper, indicating a complex
mineralising system.

Arkle is assessing the potential of the Aughrim licences as a tungsten
project, underpinned by strong market thematics for the metal which is
essential for defence and energy transition technologies.

Gold in Ireland

Arkle holds a gold exploration licence in Ireland in County Donegal and is
reviewing options which may include joint venture, partnership, or divestment.

New Website

Arkle intends to launch a new website at the same domain of
www.arkleresources.com (http://www.arkleresources.com) reflecting the
Company's forward strategy next week. The Company encourages investors to
review the website after launch which will include project maps. Arkle intends
to publish an updated investor presentation and convene an investor webinar
soon.

Contacts:

 Arkle Resources

 Rory Harding, Interim CEO   +44 (0)20 3051 5348

 John Teeling, Chairman      +353 (0) 1 833 2833

 SP Angel Corporate Finance  Nominated Adviser & Joint Broker
 Matthew Johnson

                           +44 (0)20 3470 0470
 Charlie Bouverat

 Adam Cowl

 First Equity Limited        Joint Broker

 Jason Robertson             +44 (0)20 7374 2212

 Vigo Consulting             UK Media & IR
 Ben Simons                  +44 (0)20 7390 0234

 Safia Colebrook             arkle.ir@vigoconsulting.com (mailto:arkle.ir@vigoconsulting.com)

 Teneo                       Ireland Media

 Luke Hogg                   +353 (0) 1 661 4055

 Molly Mooney

 

 

 

About Arkle Resources

Arkle Resources PLC (LSE:ARK) Arkle is a multi-commodity exploration company
focused on metals which are essential for the generation and storage of clean
energy - uranium, lithium and zinc. Its projects are in tier-1 mining
jurisdictions in Namibia, Botswana and Ireland, adjacent to world-class
deposits.

Founded in 2004 by John Teeling and Jim Finn, the Company co-discovered the
Stonepark zinc deposit in County Limerick - now Ireland's second largest
undeveloped resource - in joint venture with Teck Ireland. Teck's interest was
acquired by Group Eleven Resources (TSX-V: ZNG), who continue to advance the
project alongside Arkle.

In January 2026, the Company announced a transformative deal to acquire
Namibia Uranium Pty Ltd, which has introduced four highly prospective uranium
licences contiguous to major producing and development assets in what is a
world-class uranium jurisdiction.

This acquisition, alongside the Company's existing licence portfolio and the
introduction of new management, repositions Arkle to become a leading explorer
in energy metals.

For more information visit: www.arkleresources.com
(http://www.arkleresources.com)

Follow us on social media:

www.x.com/ArkleResources (http://www.x.com/ArkleResources)

www.linkedin.com/company/arkle-resources-plc
(http://www.linkedin.com/company/arkle-resources-plc)

 

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