Kazera Global, which owns Tantalite Valley Mine in Namibia, says it is ready to increase production of tantalum and lithium after it received N$8.4 million from Chinese company Hebei Xinjian Construction.

The government has granted Reconnaissance Energy Africa (ReconAfrica) a three-year extension on its Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC).

The ECC, which is issued by the Office of the Environmental Commissioner in the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, covers the entire PEL 73 permit in northeast Namibia that stretches over 6.3 million acres (25,000 km2).

The ECC authorizes ReconAfrica to continue drilling stratigraphic test wells, to depths, approved by Ministry of Mines and Energy and National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR) as well as completing a sidetrack of the Company's first well, Kawe 6-2, in the Kavango Basin.

The extended ECC, which is valid from August 26, 2022, until August 26, 2025, was approved on August 11, 2022.

"The extension of the Environmental Clearance Certificate was underpinned by extensive on-the-ground and research-based data gathering by our technical teams working in combination with our third-party technical partners,” ReconAfrica Chief Executive Officer, Scot Evans said.

“The extension further demonstrates how ReconAfrica is working collaboratively with our interested and impacted stakeholders in Namibia including local and national government entities/representatives, as well as with the Traditional Authorities, as we pursue the commercial development of the Kavango Basin. The extension enables the Company to plan and execute our current stratigraphic drilling and sidetrack programs.”