Kasiya rehabilitation trials show 5x crop yield improvement

MALAWI - Sovereign Metals Limited (ASX:SVM; AIM:SVML; OTCQX:SVMLF) announced Wednesday that rehabilitation trials at its Kasiya Rutile-Graphite Project in Malawi have achieved a fivefold improvement in crop yields compared to traditional farming methods in the region.

The trials, conducted on a 10-hectare pilot site, produced maize yields of 5.2 tonnes per hectare versus the regional average of 1 tonne per hectare, according to a company press release.

The rehabilitation process involved a six-step approach including land preparation with backfill, soil nutrient enhancement, mechanical integration, strategic planting, and implementation of drip irrigation for year-round farming.

Twenty-eight local farmers participated in the program, which tested various rehabilitation options to develop a model for post-mining land use. The company leased the trial site from local farmers for a two-year period.

Frank Eagar, CEO of Sovereign Metals, said the results represent "another critical milestone" in developing Kasiya, while the company’s Environmental Manager Marco Da Cunha noted Sovereign’s commitment to rehabilitating disturbed land for sustainable agricultural activities.

The data from these trials will inform the rehabilitation strategy for the company’s ongoing Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS), addressing key components of the project’s development pathway.

The rehabilitation approach combines agronomic practices with techniques including biochar application, precision nutrient management, and intercropping with Giant Bamboo, creating what the company describes as a replicable model for broader implementation.

Sovereign Metals is developing the Kasiya project in partnership with Rio Tinto (NYSE:RIO), with oversight from a joint technical committee.

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