NRL Discovers Copper, Gold Reserves in Chagai
- Sara Habib
- April 8, 2025
- 2:00 pm
- 38
- Current Affairs
National Resources Limited (NRL) has announced a major copper-gold discovery in Chagai, Balochistan. This marks a big step for Pakistan’s mining sector. The discovery was shared by Muhammad Ali Tabba, Chairman of NRL and CEO of Lucky Cement, at the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2025.
Strong Local Investment in Exploration
NRL is a fully Pakistani-owned company. It is backed by Fatima Fertilizer, Liberty Mills, and Lucky Cement. The company received its mining lease in October 2023. Since then, it has explored the area and found 18 new mineral prospects. One of them, called Tang Kaur, is already in advanced drilling.
Promising Drilling Results at Tang Kaur
NRL drilled 13 diamond holes, totaling 3,517 meters. All showed signs of porphyry-style copper-gold mineralization. The first six holes showed good results with copper, gold, and silver. Copper grades range from 0.23% to 0.48%, gold from 0.09 to 0.14 g/t, and silver from 1.30 to 6.21 g/t. This confirms near-surface rich zones.
Next Steps in Project Development
More drilling will begin in May 2025. A technical report will follow by the end of the year. NRL is working with international experts to ensure quality standards. Over the next 3–4 years, they will complete detailed studies. These will help decide on future mining operations.
Expansion into Lead-Zinc and More Copper Areas
NRL is also expanding. The company received a Lead-Zinc exploration license near a known deposit. It is now checking if downstream processing is possible. At the same time, NRL is working with the Government of Balochistan to get two more copper-gold licenses. A $100 million fund supports this growth.
Public and Private Collaboration
NRL signed an MoU with the Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDCL). Both plan to work together on newly acquired sites. Also, NRL may bring in local and foreign investors in the near future. This partnership approach may speed up growth in Pakistan’s mineral sector.
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