As global demand for critical minerals continues to surge, South32 has intensified its footprint in Africa’s copper-rich terrain by entering a strategic alliance with Noronex. The deal, worth up to $5 million, centres on highly prospective copper tenements in Botswana’s Kalahari Copper Belt, with the goal of unlocking significant copper deposits aligned with clean energy supply chains.
The move marks a major step in South32 copper exploration strategy and follows a wave of investments in critical minerals across Africa and Latin America.
Joint Venture to Unlock High-Potential Ground
The alliance allows South32 to earn a 70% stake in Noronex’s exploration licences—PL0074/2025 and PL0075/2025—by spending up to $5 million on staged exploration over several years. These tenements are adjacent to Noronex’s existing Damara Copper Project, one of the emerging copper districts in the region.
“South32’s technical strength and financial capacity bring new momentum to our vision of developing a major copper province in Botswana,” said James Thompson, CEO of Noronex.
South32 Copper hunt across Botswana’s Kalahari Copper Belt
Source: Noronex Investor Presentation / 2025
Why Botswana?
Botswana’s Kalahari Copper Belt is gaining attention for its promising geology, which resembles the mineral-rich formations found in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The region hosts a mix of sediment-hosted stratabound copper deposits and basement feeder systems, making it ripe for discovery.
In recent years, explorers like Khoemacau Copper Mining and Sandfire Resources have confirmed world-class copper deposits in this belt, pushing Botswana into the spotlight as one of Africa’s most stable and promising copper jurisdictions.
For South32, this latest alliance reflects a long-term exploration commitment to discover scalable copper resources in low-risk, mining-friendly regions.
Technical Highlights
Initial work will focus on the interpretation of magnetic and soil geochemistry anomalies identified during previous campaigns. Early test results have already returned anomalous copper values, suggesting proximity to mineralised feeder zones.
Noronex has indicated that the target style is consistent with a basement copper deposit model, which may host higher grades than traditional Kalahari deposits. Planned drilling campaigns will refine these targets and validate geophysical interpretations.
Interpreted cross-section showing Noronex target zones in Botswana
Source:
Namibia Work Underpins New Strategy
This Botswana exploration builds on Noronex’s recent positive drilling results in Namibia, where similar geological models are being tested. Drilling at the Heliocentric and Fiesta prospects in 2024 returned elevated copper values over multiple horizons.
That success has helped to shape a regional exploration strategy that now includes both sides of the Kalahari Copper Belt, offering scalability and cross-border geological continuity.
South32’s Broader Copper Pivot
South32, traditionally known for its exposure to base metals, has been quietly repositioning itself as a future-facing copper producer. The company has increased its copper holdings through investments in Chile, Peru, and now southern Africa, amid surging demand for copper in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and battery storage systems.
“This partnership with Noronex enhances our long-term portfolio in a high-priority mineral,” said a South32 spokesperson. “It aligns with our strategy to grow in the critical minerals space, particularly where geology, jurisdiction, and infrastructure are favourable.”
Exploration crew operating along sediment-hosted copper corridor in Kalahari Belt
Source: Noronex Investor Presentation / 2025
Next Steps and Exploration Timeline
The first phase of the program will involve:
- High-resolution geophysics
- Ground validation of historical data
- Initial RC drilling campaign on priority targets
- Community engagement and baseline environmental studies
Results from the early-stage campaign will guide the scale and direction of future drilling, with resource definition drilling expected by late 2026 if initial findings are positive.
Strategic Implications
For South32, this venture offers more than just exploration upside—it provides a gateway into a strategically important copper corridor in a jurisdiction with:
- Strong rule of law
- Low sovereign risk
- Governmental support for mining
- Access to infrastructure including road, rail, and power corridors
As copper prices remain buoyed by long-term fundamentals and supply-side constraints, the South32 copper exploration strategy appears focused on building optionality in future tier-one assets.
Final Thoughts
The partnership between South32 and Noronex signals growing confidence in the Kalahari Copper Belt, positioning it as a rising hotspot for large-scale copper discovery on the global stage. It also reaffirms South32’s broader pivot toward critical minerals and long-term supply resilience for the energy transition.
As fieldwork progresses and drill rigs arrive later in 2025, investors and analysts alike will be watching to see whether this partnership can unlock a new copper story on African soil.
