REG - Sovereign Metals Ltd - Successful Rehabilitation of Kasiya Test Pit

Sovereign MetalsAnnouncement

05/03/2025 07:00

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RNS Number : 3631Z  Sovereign Metals Limited  05 March 2025

NEWS RELEASE I 5 MARCH 2025

 

SUCCESSFUL REHABILITATION OF KASIYA TEST PIT

 ·         Kasiya Rehabilitation Program provides landowners with immediate access to
           land to start maize crop farming without missing a planting season
 ·         Site backfill completed; soil improvement and planting of rehabilitation crops
           commenced in December 2024
 ·         Sovereign continues to provide support and training to landowners to improve
           crop yields, including introducing conservation farming techniques, which have
           already resulted in a tripling of crop yields
 ·         Significant variety of rehabilitation crops, including giant bamboo, sunhemp,
           groundnuts and mung beans, are being tested alongside staple maize crops
 ·         Rehabilitation Program successfully demonstrates how mined land can be quickly
           and efficiently returned to productive agriculture during future full-scale
           operations

 

Sovereign Metals Limited (ASX:SVM; AIM:SVML; OTCQX: SVMLF) (Sovereign or the
Company) is pleased to announce that rehabilitation of the land at the test
pit site mined during the Pilot Mining and Land Rehabilitation Program (Pilot
Phase) at its Kasiya Rutile-Graphite Project (Kasiya or the Project) in Malawi
has been substantially progressed. Soils remediation work was concluded in
December 2024 with landowners accessing the site between December 2024 and
January 2025 to plant and cultivate crops without missing a planting season.

Managing Director and CEO Frank Eagar commented: "The successful return of
farmers to their land within such a short time and without missing a single
planting season after mining and backfilling 170,000m(3) is an excellent
outcome. This demonstration of responsible mining and land rehabilitation will
build on our positive community relationships. The pilot phase of 90 farmers
selected for our Conservation Farming program has been increased to 350 for
this season. Early indications are that the second season of this program will
exceed the 300% yield increases achieved in the pilot phase. The empirical
data collected from these trials will feed directly into our Definitive
Feasibility Study designs for mine closure and land rehabilitation."

 

Figures 1 & 2: Maize and bamboo intercrop with different levels of
maturity (February 2025)

All soil remediation works as well as planting was done by hand with the use
of a grader and tractor to prepare the soils. Sovereign appointed the local
landowners to work with us in both the soil remediation and planting work, so
they were able to directly experience and learn about our rehabilitation work
on their land.

Sovereign is working closely with the landowners to ensure that the crops
provide a good yield in 2025, while simultaneously testing a variety of
rehabilitation crops. This includes the intercropping of giant bamboo with
maize, which will be retained by the landowners.

Sovereign is committed to ensuring that all mined-out land is appropriately
rehabilitated to support sustainable farming practices after closure. The soil
remediation methods aim to revitalise the soils within a two-to-three-year
timeframe and to ensure that soils can be sustainably farmed in the long term.
The remediation of soil to a depth of 1 metre from surface, will ensure the
land can support small-scale or full-commercial farming operations.

As part of the Pilot Phase, the Company has constructed small rehabilitation
demonstration pits that will be used to illustrate multiple and ongoing
rehabilitation processes.

Rehabilitation Approach

The rehabilitation approach has been based on agronomic principles, including
promoting sustainable farming practices and providing various land uses post
mining activities.

Rehabilitation is underway through a five-step process:

Step 1: Introduce Lime (Complete)

The soil remediation commenced with the application and incorporation of
locally sourced dolomitic lime (calcium and calcium-magnesium-carbonate) to
improve naturally low PH levels.

Step 2: Introduce Carbon and Basic Nutrients (Complete)

Sovereign augmented the mined area with organic carbon and basic nutrients.
Tests include the application of biochar (to provide carbon) and fertiliser
(in the form of potash (MOP), phosphate (MAP) and a blend of nitrogen, potash
and sulphur (NPK) 15:23:16).

Step 3: Grading, Ripping and Discing (Complete)

Lime, biochar, and fertiliser were incorporated into the soil through grading,
ripping, and discing using graders and locally sourced farming equipment. This
ensured that the land was level along with safe working conditions.

Step 4: Planting of Rehabilitation Crops (In Progress)

Since December 2024, Sovereign has progressively been planting various
rehabilitation crops to maximise the benefit of the coming summer rainfall.
Giant bamboo has been introduced in 4 by 8-metre blocks, which will act as the
primary crop to enhance carbon and bio-activity in the remediated soils. Maize
and other cover crops have been intercropped between the giant bamboo within
re-organised farm blocks.

Step 5: Monitoring and Evaluation (In Progress)

Sovereign continues to monitor soil remediation, plant growth and crop yields.
As part of stakeholder engagement, the Company is working with local farmers
to improve results through conservation farming, composting operations,
testing new seed varieties and establishing an indigenous, fruit and farming
nursery. This is serving as a live demonstration of rehabilitation and timely
return of land to a pre-mining state.

 

 Enquires
 Frank Eagar, Managing Director & CEO

 South Africa / Malawi

 +27 21 140 3190

 Sapan Ghai, CCO

 London

 +44 207 478 3900

 

 Nominated Adviser on AIM and Joint Broker
 SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP             +44 20 3470 0470
 Ewan Leggat

 Charlie Bouverat

 Joint Brokers
 Stifel                                     +44 20 7710 7600
 Varun Talwar
 Ashton Clanfield

 Berenberg                                  +44 20 3207 7800
 Matthew Armitt
 Jennifer Lee

 Buchanan                                   + 44 20 7466 5000

 

 

Forward Looking Statement

 

This release may include forward-looking statements, which may be identified
by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "projects", "plans",
and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on
Sovereign's expectations and beliefs concerning future events. Forward looking
statements are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors,
many of which are outside the control of Sovereign, which could cause actual
results to differ materially from such statements. There can be no assurance
that forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Sovereign makes no
undertaking to subsequently update or revise the forward-looking statements
made in this release, to reflect the circumstances or events after the date of
that release.

 

 

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