Krakatoa Poised for Drilling Restart at Zopkhito After License Extension

Drilling Set to Resume Following Strong 2025 Validation

Krakatoa Resources Limited (ASX:KTA) is preparing to restart drilling at its Zopkhito antimony-gold project in Georgia, following a 2025 campaign that confirmed high-grade mineralisation extending beyond historical underground workings. The recent results validated the presence of both high-grade quartz-antimony veins and an extended gold alteration system, reinforcing the project's exploration potential.

Site access improvements and snow clearance are well advanced, with drill rig mobilisation already underway, signalling an imminent return to field activities.

Exploration License Extended to 2042 with Government Backing

The Georgian government has granted Krakatoa a crucial two-year extension to its exploration period under the existing mining license, now valid until March 2042. This decree, signed by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, provides the company with additional runway to progress its resource definition and development plans.

This extension underscores Georgia’s supportive stance on mineral resource development and gives Krakatoa added flexibility as it advances the project.

2026 Program Targets Resource Definition and Development Studies

Building on last year’s success, the 2026 field season will focus on resource definition drilling aimed at converting the existing foreign resource estimate into a JORC-compliant Mineral Resource. The project currently holds a foreign estimate of 225,000 tonnes at 11.6% antimony and 7.1 million tonnes at 3.7 grams per tonne gold, though this is yet to be formally classified under JORC standards.

Complementing drilling, Krakatoa plans metallurgical optimisation test work and preliminary mining studies to inform future development strategies. Environmental baseline studies and permitting processes are also progressing in parallel.

Strategic Positioning in a Critical Minerals Corridor

Zopkhito’s location in Georgia’s Racha region, combined with its high-grade antimony and gold mineralisation, positions it as a strategic asset in Europe’s critical minerals supply chain. The extensive historical exploration infrastructure, including 27 kilometres of underground adits and over 15,000 channel and geochemical samples, provides a robust foundation for advancing the project.

Krakatoa holds an exclusive option to acquire up to an 80% interest in Zopkhito, a deal recently restructured to prioritise exploration capital, further aligning investment with project milestones.