Wia Gold (ASX:WIA) has increased the mineral resource estimate (MRE) for its Kokoseb Gold Project in Namibia by 29% to 3.78 million ounces (Moz) of gold.
The updated MRE comprises an open pit resource of 105 million tonnes (Mt) @ 0.96 grams per tonne gold (Au) for 3.23Moz, representing a 10% increase from the previous estimate.
It also includes a maiden underground inferred resource of 7.9Mt @ 2.2g/t Au for 560,000 ounces below the pit shell used for the Definitive Feasibility Study.
About 2.01Moz, or 53% of the total resource, are classified in the indicated category. Mineralisation remains open at depth along more than 5km of strike.
Managing Director Henk Diederichs says the underground resource introduces a ‘higher-grade’ component to Kokoseb and supports longer-term development planning.
“It is particularly pleasing that 2.01Moz of gold is now classified in the higher-confidence indicated category, providing a strong foundation for the Definitive Feasibility Study and ongoing development planning,” Diederichs says.
“With six rigs currently operating, drilling activities are focused on testing the continuity and extent of mineralisation at depth and further assessing potential higher-grade zones to improve confidence in the underground resource.”
The open pit resource was reported at a 0.50g/t Au cut-off and constrained within an optimised pit shell based on a US$3,250 ($4602.18) per ounce gold price and 92% recovery. The previous July 2025 estimate used a US$2,300 per ounce gold price.
The underground resource uses a 0.85g/t Au cut-off. Wia has also defined a conceptual underground exploration target of 10–15Mt @ 2–2.5g/t Au, additional to the MRE. The company cautions that insufficient exploration has been completed to estimate a mineral resource from the target.
Wia says it expects drilling to assess the exploration target over the next six to 12 months.
The Kokoseb project lies about 220km from Windhoek within the Okombahe exploration licence. Wia holds an 80% interest through a joint venture with Namibia’s state-owned Epangelo Mining.
Write to France Pinzon at Mining.com.au
Images: Wia Gold
