Exploration Risks Loom as Askari Advances Nejo Project with Maiden Drilling Planned
Askari Metals has launched a comprehensive exploration program at its Nejo Gold and Copper Project in Ethiopia, targeting high-grade gold and copper mineralisation ahead of a maiden drilling campaign planned for late 2025.
- Dual-focused exploration targeting gold in southern licences and copper at Katta Target
- Systematic field program includes mapping, soil and rock sampling, and drill hole verification
- Historical high-grade mineralisation to be validated with modern data-driven strategy
- Entitlement offer open until 19 November 2025 to fund drilling and exploration activities
- Exploration also planned at Uis Project targeting critical metals like tin, tantalum, and lithium
Exploration Mobilisation Marks Key Milestone
Askari Metals Limited (ASX:AS2) has officially commenced a dual gold and copper exploration program at its flagship Nejo Gold and Copper Project in Ethiopia. The company’s geological and technical teams have mobilised into the field, signalling a transition from strategic planning to active exploration. This campaign aims to systematically investigate high-grade, shallow gold mineralisation along two major gold corridors in the southern licence area, as well as high-grade copper mineralisation at the Katta Target in the north-west.
Targeting High-Grade Gold Along Guliso and Guji-Gudeya Trends
The exploration strategy focuses on two key gold trends – the Guliso Trend, stretching approximately 10 kilometres and including targets such as Soyoma, Dina, Chago, and South Chago; and the Guji-Gudeya Trend, about 9 kilometres long with drill-ready targets like Guji, Komto 1, and Komto 2. Historical drilling and trenching in these areas have returned high-grade gold results, but modern, systematic follow-up has been limited. Askari’s program will involve detailed geological mapping, soil and rock sampling, and verification of historical drill holes to refine and prioritise targets ahead of a planned maiden drilling campaign in Q4 2025.
Reviving Copper Potential at the Katta Target
In parallel, the company is expanding exploration at the Katta Target, where historical drilling by the United Nations Development Programme in the early 1970s identified significant high-grade copper mineralisation across wide intervals. Despite these promising results, the area remains underexplored. Askari plans to validate and build upon this legacy data with modern techniques, including high-resolution geophysical surveys and soil geochemical sampling, to better define the extent and nature of the copper zones and prepare for targeted drilling.
Funding and Broader Exploration Ambitions
To support these initiatives, Askari Metals has opened a non-renounceable entitlement offer for existing shareholders, closing on 19 November 2025. Funds raised will be directed towards the maiden drilling program at Nejo and exploration activities at the Uis Project in Namibia. The Uis Project targets critical metals such as tin, tantalum, rubidium, and lithium within pegmatite formations, complementing the company’s diversified exploration portfolio.
Commitment to Sustainable Development and Stakeholder Engagement
Askari emphasises its commitment to responsible exploration, engaging closely with local communities, authorities, and regional partners in Ethiopia’s Oromia region. The company aims to ensure its activities contribute positively to sustainable development and long-term economic benefits. This approach underpins Askari’s ambition to establish itself as a serious exploration entity in the Arabian-Nubian Shield, a region known for its rich mineral endowment but still underexplored with modern techniques.
Looking Ahead
With a district-scale landholding of approximately 1,174 square kilometres and multiple high-grade targets, Askari Metals is well-positioned to advance the Nejo Project towards defining a JORC-compliant mineral resource. The current field program will provide critical data to optimise the upcoming drilling campaign, potentially unlocking significant value for shareholders and stakeholders alike.
Bottom Line?
Askari’s field mobilisation and funded exploration set the stage for a pivotal drilling campaign that could redefine the Nejo Project’s potential.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the maiden drilling campaign confirm the historical high-grade gold and copper mineralisation?
- How will the entitlement offer uptake influence the pace and scale of exploration activities?
- What impact will Askari’s engagement with local communities have on project development timelines?
