Koryx Copper is revising the processing design for its Haib copper project in Namibia, introducing coarse-particle flotation into a proposed 48 million tonne-per-year processing operation ahead of a prefeasibility study expected by the end of November.
The redesigned flowsheet would remove approximately 12 million tonnes of lower-grade material annually before the main grinding circuit, leaving around 36 million tonnes per year for conventional flotation. The configuration incorporates Jameson flotation cells and coarse-particle separation technology, while heap leaching has been excluded from the initial development plan.
By separating material earlier in the process, the revised design aims to reduce the volume requiring energy-intensive fine grinding, potentially improving recovery performance and concentrate grades. The prefeasibility study is expected to establish whether these changes can deliver lower operating costs and improve the project’s economic returns.
Haib Copper Inventory and Production Potential
Haib is one of Namibia’s larger undeveloped copper projects. The deposit contains approximately 2.09 million tonnes of indicated copper and a further 1.39 million tonnes of inferred copper.
Previous development concepts envisaged annual copper production of approximately 92,000 tonnes. Advancing the project towards development will depend on securing financing and obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals. The proposed processing capacity also entails substantial infrastructure requirements, particularly for electricity supply, water sourcing and long-term tailings storage.
Power Supply, Water and Tailings Infrastructure
Koryx is assessing a proposed 68-kilometre, 220-kilovolt transmission line to connect Haib to Namibia’s electricity grid. The power supply concept would be supplemented by solar generation and battery storage. Estimated electricity consumption for the project is approximately 1.45 terawatt-hours per year. Water would preferably be sourced from the Orange River, located about 9 kilometres south of the project. The planned tailings-storage facility would need to accommodate approximately 1.15 billion tonnes of material over the mine’s operating life. These requirements form a significant part of the infrastructure planning for the proposed large-scale operation.
Environmental Approvals and Feasibility Study
Environmental applications have been submitted, with Koryx targeting regulatory decisions before the end of 2027. The prefeasibility study due by the end of November is the next major project milestone. Its assessment of the redesigned processing configuration will be important in determining whether the proposed flowsheet can reduce unit costs sufficiently to support the capital requirements of a 48-million-tonne-per-year operation. The study will need to assess the implications of the processing changes alongside the project’s requirements for power, water, tailings management and financing as Koryx advances development planning for Haib.
