Pioneer grows uranium footprint with grant of Botsalano in Botswana

Pioneer has been granted the Botsalano project in southern Botswana, expanding its strategic uranium footprint.

Botswana becomes the third jurisdiction in Pioneer’s uranium portfolio alongside Namibia and the US. Image: Getty Images

Special Report: Pioneer has expanded its uranium footprint on being granted the Botsalano project in southern Botswana along the South African border.

• PLN’s newest project is within the Botsalano Ring Complex, an ideal setting for uranium mineralisation
• Botswana ranks as Africa’s most politically stable jurisdiction
• There is access to established infrastructure including rail, roads, power and water supply

Among the pros for Pioneer (ASX:PLN) are that the project is within the Botsalano Ring Complex, an ideal setting for uranium mineralisation, and that it is in Botswana, which ranks as Africa’s most politically stable jurisdiction.

There is also access to established infrastructure along the main north-south corridor, including rail, roads, power and water supply, and the project has a proven pedigree as it was previously held by UraMin Inc.

PLN said the project’s uranium potential was also underscored by its geological similarities to world-class assets.

The Botsalano Prospecting Licence covers 815km2 and the acquisition adds a third uranium jurisdiction to PNL’s growing pipeline alongside Namibia and the US.

“The addition of the Botsalano project adds to the growing portfolio of Pioneer’s uranium projects and reinforces Pioneer’s goal to become a global provider of critical minerals required for the global transition to low carbon emission sustainable power supply,” Pioneer CEO Michael Beven said.

“The project’s uranium potential is supported by its past ownership by UraMin Inc, which was acquired by Orano for £1.8 billion in 2007, reflecting strong historical confidence in the region’s geological prospectivity. 

“Multiple styles of uranium mineralisation are prospective including breccia hosted uranium mineralisation as seen elsewhere in brecciated iron oxide flooded environments and leucogranites like those found in Namibia at the Rossing Mine and Pioneer’s Warmbad assets.”

Regional map showing the location of the Botsalano uranium project. Image: PLN

Lord of the Ring (Complex)

Botsalano Ring Complex has a diameter of about 40km and is dominated by Archean aged granites.

The inferred ring structure and associated breccia structures intruded into a sandstone host is an ideal geological environment to host uranium mineralisation.

Pioneer’s initial focus will be to compile all available historical exploration and geophysical data relevant to the project area and surrounds. 

It will obtain and review original historical exploration data from the South African Council for Geoscience as well as the Botswana Geoscience Institute to inform exploration efforts.

A targeted field program will focus on identifying and confirming uranium-bearing strata through systematic sampling transects in areas across the project area.

Based on the results of initial fieldwork, a detailed geological investigation will aim to delineate the strike length and thickness of favourable horizons and identify the target geological models.

An exploratory drilling plan will then be developed to test the significance of any uranium mineralisation to define the project’s potential.

This article was developed in collaboration with Pioneer Lithium, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing. 

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.