FWO Finds 350 Million Tons of Copper in Chagai District

The Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) has announced the discovery of 350 million tons of copper in the Dasht-e-Kain area of Balochistan’s Chagai district. This finding, based on the initial half of the drilling data, was disclosed by FWO’s CEO during the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 in Islamabad. FWO is currently the sole company conducting exploration in the region, with no joint venture partners involved.

The copper deposit is situated at a depth of 500 metres within the Dasht-e-Kain drill site. Although the complete size of the deposit will be determined after the analysis of the remaining half of the drilling data, the initial findings indicate a substantial reserve. Notably, Dasht-e-Kain is located in the Chagai copper belt, which also hosts the massive Reko Diq copper-gold project and the Saindak mine.

Geological studies previously estimated the estimated reserves in Dasht-e-Kain to be around 350 million tons, placing it behind only Reko Diq and Saindak among the evaluated deposits in the belt. The increasing global demand for copper, given its crucial role in power grids, electric vehicles, and renewable energy, has heightened the value of large new copper deposits like this one for Pakistan's export objectives.

The announcement by FWO adds to a productive week for the Chagai region. National Resources Limited (NRL) announced the discovery of copper and gold at eight new sites in the district, while Mari Energies reported a gold and copper discovery near Reko Diq. A total of 13 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were also signed during the two-day forum, as the government seeks to attract foreign investment into Pakistan's mining sector.