NRL discovers major copper-gold deposit in Chagai, Balochistan

April 08, 2025 (MLN): National Resources Limited (NRL) has discovered significant copper-gold mineralization in Chagai, Balochistan.

This was reported by Muhammad Ali Tabba, Chairman of NRL and CEO Lucky Cement Limited, while addressing the participants at the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2025 today.

The company has also signed an MOU with the Oil and Gas Development Company (PSX: OGDC) to work on newly acquired leases together, as per the press release issued.

Additionally, NRL is actively working with the Government of Baluchistan (GoB) and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to secure two additional Copper-Gold Exploration licenses in Chagai, Balochistan, supported by a dedicated $100 million exploration fund.

Looking ahead, the company plans to bring additional national and international investors into the project as required.

NRL, a 100% Pakistani privately owned company and a subsidiary of Fatima Fertilizer, Liberty Mills Limited, and Lucky Cement, was awarded a lease in October 2023.

The licensed area contained two known porphyry prospects with strong exploration potential.

Over the 15 months, NRL has identified 18 new prospects. One of these prospects, "Tang Kaur," has rapidly progressed to an advanced drilling stage.

Tabba informed that NRL has completed 13 diamond drill holes (3,517 meters), all of which intersected significant porphyry-style alteration, sheeted and stockwork quartz vein sets, and sulfide mineralization.

Assay results from the first six drill holes (1,500 meters) confirm strongly mineralized, near-surface zones with downhole intervals ranging from 48 to 148 meters, using a 0.2% copper cut-off grade and up to 10 meters of internal dilution.

The average grade of the intercepts ranges from 0.23% to 0.48% copper, 0.09 to 0.14 g/t gold, and 1.30 to 6.21 g/t silver, resulting in a copper equivalent of 0.28% to 0.56%.

The mineralized system remains open to the north, east, and at depth.

He said that advanced drilling at Tang Kaur is scheduled for May 2025, leading to an NI 43-101 Technical Report by year-end by internationally recognized consultants, who are already monitoring the project.

This will be followed by 3–4 years of detailed exploration, culminating in feasibility studies, while exploration of the other prospects and leases continues.

Furthermore, NRL has acquired a Lead-Zinc exploration license adjacent to a well-known deposit, where a Bankable Feasibility Study has already been conducted.

A comprehensive metal value chain is also being studied to assess the feasibility of downstream processing.

NRL considers Indigenous populations as key stakeholders and actively supports social development through clean water, education, healthcare, and local employment/businesses. Our current ratio of local employment is above 90%. 

NRL fosters industry-academia collaboration and remains committed to sustainability. NRL believes mining prospers only when local communities are recognized as the most important stakeholder, and they directly benefit from such activities. 

The company extends its gratitude to the Government of Balochistan (GoB) and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) for their continued support and cooperation.

NRL remains committed to advancing mineral development in Balochistan, paving the way for Pakistan-led exploration.

With their ongoing support, NRL is confident that more domestic companies will enter the mining sector, contributing to its growth and development for the betterment of both Balochistan and Pakistan.

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