<article><p class="lead">Metallurgical test work has identified opportunities to reduce operating and capital costs for a planned downstream cobalt and copper refinery to be integrated into the Opuwo Cobalt project in Namibia.</p><p>Flotation test work had achieved improvements in concentrate grade and metal recovery percentages, leading to higher concentrate feed and less leaching intensity, project developer Perth-based Celsius Resources said.</p><p>A scoping study on the project, which could become the most significant African cobalt project outside the Democratic Republic of Congo, is expected to be completed before the end of this year.</p><p>Celsius in April declared a maiden mineral resource at Opuwo of 112.4mn t grading 0.11pc cobalt, 0.41pc copper and 0.43pc zinc. It is estimated to contain around 126,000t of cobalt.</p></article>
