Proactive’s Tylah Tully breaks down ‘Just the Facts’ of the latest news from Sovereign Metals Ltd (ASX:SVM, OTC:SVMLF, AIM:SVML).
The company completed backfilling a test pit at its Kasiya Rutile-Graphite Project in Malawi. This milestone is part of the company’s sustainability-focused Pilot Mining and Land Rehabilitation Program, aimed at enabling land to return quickly to productive use after mining.
The company reported that more than 170,000 cubic metres of material was extracted and replaced in under two months, ahead of schedule. The backfilling marks the beginning of a five-step land rehabilitation process that supports sustainable farming and conservation.
The process involves applying dolomitic lime to improve soil pH followed by fertiliser to enhance soil health. Rehabilitation crops such as giant bamboo, maize and cover crops will be planted, with intercropping methods to maximise soil productivity. Sovereign Metals is also monitoring soil and crop performance and collaborating with local farmers, who are expected to benefit from its conservation initiatives to develop smallholder farms.
The completed backfill has validated the company’s understanding of the Kasiya orebody and contributed valuable data for its optimisation study. Sovereign Metals is now demonstrating its approach to progressive mining, backfilling, and land rehabilitation to local communities, a key goal of its Pilot Phase.
