Copper, gold deposits identified at eight sites in Balochistan’s Chagai district: mining company

National Resources Limited (NRL) has discovered copper and gold deposits at eight locations in Balochistan’s Chagai district, following extensive drilling. The company is currently estimating the total mineral resources of the area. One drill hole uncovered a 295-meter stretch with 0.43% copper and 0.13 grams of gold per tonne, with an additional 132-meter section showing even higher copper concentrations at 0.83%.

These discoveries span an area of 5.6 square kilometres in Darigwan, adjacent to NRL's previously found Tang Kaur copper-gold site. NRL Chairman Muhammad Ali Tabba stated that further exploration at exploration licence EL214 will help determine the extent of the mineral deposits, pending the completion of exploration work and a formal assessment of resources.

NRL, a joint venture between Fatima Fertilisers, Liberty Mills, and Lucky Cement Ltd, holds five exploration licences in Balochistan, including copper-gold, lead-zinc, and antimony projects. The company plans to conduct environmental, hydrogeological, metallurgical, and geotechnical studies in 2027, with the goal of completing a bankable feasibility study by the end of the decade.

Tabba reiterated NRL's commitment of $100 million to mineral exploration in Pakistan and encouraged domestic and international investors and service providers to explore emerging opportunities. An independent consultant has prepared preliminary resource estimates, but the company is awaiting approval to release them according to international reporting standards.

NRL is working on a predictive artificial intelligence model, developed in partnership with Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), to expedite exploration using geological modeling and drilling data.

Tabba emphasized NRL's ambition to create a world-class mineral exploration platform, contributing to an integrated mineral value chain. The company is building local expertise by collaborating with Baloch geologists, international consultants, and Pakistani contractors. The technical workforce is nearly entirely local, supporting the company's goal of developing domestic expertise that could also aid international exploration.

In addition to its exploration efforts, NRL is investing in education and community development through the newly established Chagai Foundation. Tabba called upon industrialists, investors, and corporate partners to contribute to NRL's vision of "Enabling Balochistan" and ensuring that the people of Balochistan share in the opportunities stemming from their mineral wealth.