Sinowin Lithium Advances Marão Drilling to Support Mining Licence

Sinowin Accelerates Marão Drilling to Unlock Mining Licence

Sinowin Lithium’s decision to bankroll drilling at MRG Metals’ Marão Titanium Dioxide Project signals a clear push to progress the licence from exploration to mining. The JV partner’s funding will expand and infill mineralisation at the Magonde Heavy Mineral Sands target, building on a previous 100-hole auger program that confirmed geological continuity over 1,350 metres with standout grades up to 4.57% Total Heavy Mineral (THM). This drilling campaign aims to underpin a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) and support the ongoing mining licence renewal application for Marão.

The Marão licence is currently under renewal, with exploration set to commence immediately upon grant. Under the Joint Venture Agreement, Marão is scheduled to enter the JV after Stage 3 milestones, including heavy mineral concentrate (HMC) production reaching 440,000 tonnes per annum. Until then, the JV maintains responsibility for exploration expenditure to hold the licence.

Broader JV Investment Builds Corridor Sands Momentum

Sinowin’s commitment to Marão follows its recent funding of drilling at the adjacent Corridor North project, extending its footprint beyond the already established Corridor Central and South deposits. The JV has invested over US$2 million in Corridor Central and South, where a JORC-compliant 1.4 billion tonne Mineral Resource and a 700 million tonne Exploration Target have been delineated. The Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for Corridor Central was submitted in March 2026, a critical regulatory milestone toward the targeted 2027 production start.

This broader JV push is supported by robust infrastructure, including sealed road access, grid power proximity, and the nearby Port of Chongoene. Financed by Ding Sheng at a cost of approximately US$300 million, the port lies about 20 kilometres from Corridor Central and is nearing operational readiness, offering a low-cost export route for heavy mineral concentrate. Sinowin’s production targets are ambitious: 130,000 to 160,000 tonnes per annum in the first year, ramping up to 800,000 tonnes within five years.

MRG Metals Eyes Parallel Growth in Mozambique and South Africa

MRG Metals Chairman Andrew Van Der Zwan highlighted Sinowin’s strategic focus on advancing the JV portfolio toward mining licences, enabling MRG to concentrate on other growth assets. These include the Adriano/Fontinho and Olinga projects in Mozambique, as well as the Garies rare earths project in South Africa, where MRG is progressing a mining licence application alongside exploration plans to expand high-grade resources.

The renewed drilling at Marão and continued JV investment underline the partnership’s commitment to unlocking value across multiple licences, balancing near-term production ambitions with longer-term resource development. The interplay between advancing resource definition and navigating regulatory milestones will be key to watch in the coming months.

Sinowin’s role as sole funder of drilling and environmental approvals at Corridor Central and North reflects a deepening JV collaboration that could define MRG’s trajectory in the heavy mineral sands sector. The combination of substantial resource potential, infrastructure advantages, and committed JV funding creates a platform for meaningful progress toward commercial production.

While the timelines for mining licence grants and production ramp-up remain subject to regulatory and drilling outcomes, the coordinated JV approach and infrastructure in place offer a promising pathway. How quickly the Marão licence renewal progresses and the results of the new drilling campaign will be pivotal in shaping the JV’s next phase.

MRG’s broader strategy to develop critical mineral projects across Mozambique and South Africa, including rare earths at Garies, adds an additional layer of complexity and potential to the company’s portfolio, suggesting a multi-pronged approach to growth beyond the heavy mineral sands focus.

The evolving JV dynamics and infrastructure developments in Mozambique position MRG Metals in a watchworthy spot as it navigates the transition from exploration to mining licence status and eventual production.

These developments follow Sinowin’s earlier Sinowin funds drilling at Corridor North commitment and the full ESIA submitted for Corridor Central milestone, reinforcing the JV’s forward momentum.