Trigon Metals Inc. provided an update on work on the establishment of the Kombat underground mine planned for early 2024. Dewatering the underground mine began in September 2023. Water levels have decreased 157m in the first month of piping and is on track to have the shaft fully dewatered by year-end.

This will allow for mining to begin in the first half of 2024. In July and August 2023, Trigon installed two powerful (2.5MW) submersible pumps in the main shaft at Asis West, together with 7.2 MW of emergency backup generators to ensure uninterrupted power. The water pumped out of the mine is potable and piped into an open canal that feeds reservoirs near Windhoek, the capital of Namibia.

An extensive hydrogeology study was completed to understand water related to the mine. The pumps have the capacity to remove in excess of 2,000 cubic metres per hour, sufficiently more than the total inflow when the mine is completely drained. The mining fleet for underground mining is expected to begin to arrive in December 2023, providing sufficient time to prepare stopes and train staff before the planned start-up.