Kasiya Test Pit Rehabilitation Trials Results

Sovereign Metals

20/08/2025 07:00

RNS Number : 0555W

Sovereign Metals Limited

20 August 2025

 

NEWS RELEASE I 20 AUGUST 2025

KASIYA TEST PIT REHABILITATION TRIALS DELIVER EXCEPTIONAL FIRST YEAR RESULTS

·    Rehabilitation trials achieve 5x crop yield improvement - demonstrating superior post-mining land productivity versus traditional farming

·    Critical DFS input delivered - land rehabilitation strategy now de-risked for integration into mining schedule, back-filling, mine closure and post-mining land use with empirical data to inform the DFS

·    Tier 1 ESG credentials confirmed - progressive rehabilitation model supports sustainable mining and post-mining land-use, while also providing for substantial carbon sequestration opportunities

·    Community partnership validated - 28 local farmers achieved transformational agricultural outcomes

 

Sovereign Metals Limited (ASX:SVM; AIM:SVML; OTCQX:SVMLF) (Sovereign or the Company) is pleased to announce exceptional first-year results from its rehabilitation trials at the Kasiya Rutile-Graphite Project (Kasiya or the Project) in Malawi, delivering critical data that will inform the progressive rehabilitation strategy for the ongoing Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS).

The successful rehabilitation trials address a key component of Kasiya's development pathway, demonstrating that post-mining land can achieve superior agricultural productivity compared to pre-mining conditions. With maize yields of 5.2 tonnes per hectare versus the regional average of 1 tonne per hectare, the trials validate Sovereign's progressive mining, back-filling and rehabilitation approach that will be integrated into the DFS.

Sovereign Metals CEO Frank Eagar commented: "These outstanding rehabilitation results represent another critical milestone in our systematic approach to developing Kasiya into a Tier 1, low carbon, sustainable operation. The empirical data from these trials directly informs our DFS rehabilitation strategy, further de-risking the project while demonstrating exceptional ESG credentials. With oversight from the joint SVM - Rio Technical Committee, we continue to advance the genuine Tier-1 Kasiya Project."

Rehabilitation Lead and Environmental Manager, Marco Da Cunha commented: "Sovereign is fully committed to rehabilitating all disturbed land so it can be used for sustainable agricultural activities well beyond the mine life. We partnered with local farmers where we successfully tested several rehabilitation options to develop a model for agronomic-driven soil rehabilitation to be adopted by Sovereign during mining."

 

SUCCESSFUL REHABILITATION RESULTS FURTHER DE-RISK DFS

The 10-hectare pilot program achieved a 5x crop yield improvement through soil remediation, engaging 28 local farmers as partners and proving the rehabilitation process to be effective for a scaled-up implementation. Sovereign followed a systematic six-step rehabilitation process that successfully restored the disturbed land back to productive agricultural use:

1.   Land preparation with complete backfill and grading to original contours.

2.   Soil nutrient enhancement via application of locally sourced lime, biochar and fertilisers.

3.   Mechanical integration using community-sourced equipment.

4.   Strategic planting of bamboo blocks with intercropped maize and legumes.

5.   Harvest success delivering 5.2 tonnes/hectare average yield.

6.   Year-round productivity enabled by drip irrigation for winter farming programs.

The rehabilitation approach combines proven agronomic practices with innovative techniques, including biochar application, precision nutrient management, and intercropping with Giant Bamboo - creating a replicable model for the broader Kasiya development. These rehabilitation results will be integrated into Sovereign's progressive rehabilitation strategy within the DFS, supporting:

·      Project-specific closure provisioning through demonstrated restoration success.

·      Enhanced community value proposition via improved post-mining land productivity.

·      Proven environmental stewardship.

·      Strengthened ESG positioning.

Figure 1: Test pit site during the mining trials (September 2024)

Figure 2: Rehabilitation site with mature crop (May 2025)

 

Figure 3: Close-up of the healthy crops (May 2025)

 

 

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP MODEL

The trials established a proven framework for community engagement that will scale across Kasiya's development.

Sovereign secured the 10-hectare trial site through a two-year lease from local farmers. The Company worked together with the local farmers to remediate the soils, and plant bamboo and maize crops, deliberately favouring local labour over advanced mechanisation to maximise local benefits.

This approach allowed both Sovereign and farmers to directly experience the rehabilitation trials and learn key lessons together, with the land to be returned to the farmers once the 2025-2026 farming season harvest is collected.

This collaborative approach has strengthened Sovereign's social license by building long-term stakeholder support, creating a replicable model with a systematic approach ready for broader implementation across the Project.

Figure 4: Harvest celebration at the rehabilitated Kasiya test pit (June 2025)

 

Enquiries
Frank Eagar, Managing Director & CEO
South Africa / Malawi
+27 21140 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 Broker
Stifel
+44 20 7710 7600
Varun Talwar
Ashton Clanfield
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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