Minbos reaches first phosphate milestone at Angola’s Cacata deposit

Minbos Resources Limited (ASX:MNB) has moved from site preparation to its first phosphate extraction at the Cacata deposit in Angola, creating an initial stockpile before seasonal rains are expected to disrupt heavy ground movements from November.

First Cacata ore reaches surface

“Technical and operational supervision teams overseeing pit benching, material handling, and truck loading operations.”

The early-stage campaign has cut through topsoil and overburden to reach phosphate-bearing horizons, with excavators loading mined rock onto tipper trucks for transfer to on-site run-of-mine pads. Grade-control sampling is under way, but Minbos reported no assay or grade results in the announcement, leaving the quality of the first recovered material unquantified.

The work was funded by the A$6.0 million equity placement completed earlier this year, which Minbos had said would support mining mobilisation and initial production milestones. That funding had also been tied to the project’s next development phase in the company’s A$6 million placement, which was increased from A$4 million to support first production milestones at Cabinda.

Stockpiles target Q2 2027 commissioning

Minbos plans to use the extracted rock as commissioning feedstock for the Subantando plant, with commissioning scheduled to commence in Q2 2027. The company also says the stockpile may support an earlier granulation campaign and potential supply to Angola’s domestic agricultural market, although any sales remain subject to approvals and binding arrangements.

“Run-of-mine pad area and initial surface stockpiles of extracted phosphate rock at Cacata.”

“Active excavation and haulage fleet operations opening up initial excavation horizons at Cacata.”

Caption and image © Minbos Resources Limited. From “Mining Campaign Delivers First Phosphate Rock at Cacata”, 29 Oct 2026.

Getting ore to surface before the rains is intended to reduce the dependence of downstream processing on wet-season mining conditions. The campaign is being carried out by Cabminas Comércio & Indústria, the earthmoving and haulage contractor appointed after a tender process, while all-weather haul roads are still to be established. The milestone comes as Subantando plant construction advances towards its Q2 2027 target, with earlier reporting noting that funding, equipment deliveries and approvals remain dependencies.

Regulatory formalisation remains open

“Active excavation and direct truck loading of first mined phosphate ore at the Cacata pit face.”

Minbos says operations are proceeding under its 2020 Mining Investment Contract and Mining Licence 314/03/03/T.E/ANG MIREMPET/2021, while administrative processes covering operational instruments and title transfer continue with Angola’s Ministry of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas, the Agência Nacional de Recursos Minerais and provincial authorities.

The first ore is therefore a tangible execution milestone, but not yet evidence of grade, plant performance or commercial sales. The next useful markers will be the assay results from grade control, completion of all-weather access, progress on plant commissioning and any binding arrangements for local fertiliser supply.