Botswana Mining Review Comprehensive Coverage of the Progress and Achievements in the Mining Sector
Related Articles
Poised for a major growth surge in Botswana, Premium Resources has unveiled a bold six-month strategy aimed at fast-tracking development across its critical metals projects. With a keen eye on production readiness, the Canadian-based explorer is turning up the heat at its flagship Selebi and Selkirk assets through intensive drilling, advanced metallurgical studies, and aggressive resource expansion. This strategic shift signals Premium’s intent to become a key player in the global supply of critical metals, vital components for clean energy technologies and electric vehicles.
At the heart of the strategy lies the Selebi project, where Premium is accelerating efforts to showcase the true scale of the Selebi North and Selebi Main deposits. Three focused drill programmes will test new ground, including a potential third mineralised horizon beneath Selebi Main, expansion opportunities in the hinge zone between deposits and underground resource growth at Selebi North. “We are embarking on an accelerated growth curve that will not only highlight the scale of Selebi and the significance of the hinge zone but also address key metallurgical questions. It’s a methodical, high-impact approach that positions Premium to lead in the global energy transition,” said CEO Morgan Lekstrom.
Over 15,000 metres of drilling are planned in the coming months, including deep extensions of historic holes at Selebi Main to investigate a major BHEM (borehole electromagnetic) anomaly which is an area with high potential for new discoveries. Simultaneously, hinge zone drilling will target untested BHEM plates across a 2-km corridor, offering an expansion opportunity that could significantly uplift the project’s value. At Selebi North, Premium has initiated underground development for an exploration drift, enabling infill and step-out drilling directly from underground drill bays. This follows a substantial 80-hole, nearly 34,000 metre infill programme whose assay results are pending and the results that could reshape resource estimates.
Metallurgical innovation is also in focus. The company is testing advanced flotation techniques and exploring X-ray transmission (XRT) ore sorting, which could dramatically reduce processing waste while improving feed quality. In a high-tech twist, the company is working with Ideon Technologies to apply muon tomography, a cutting-edge method using cosmic rays to generate 3D density maps of subsurface mineralisation. Meanwhile, at the nearby Selkirk project, Premium is pushing ahead with surface drilling to expand the resource and fine-tune metallurgical flowsheets. Drill core from this programme will support XRT trials and a resampling campaign targeting platinum group elements (PGEs), part of an effort to upgrade the existing resource and attract future development partners.
“The high grade nature of Selebi, its substantial size, our upcoming drilling, and the metallurgical work are all critical pieces of a larger vision. We believe we’re on track to build a world class, generational project that places Botswana at the centre of the global critical metals conversation,” said Lekstrom. As the world races to secure reliable sources of battery metals, Premium’s fast-tracked strategy may prove not only timely but transformational for both the company and Botswana’s growing reputation as a critical minerals powerhouse.
