Kalahari Copperbelt Copper Exploration Project, Botswana

A Battery Metal Destination in Africa

Aterian’s Kalahari Copperbelt (KCB) Project focuses on the exploration of copper-silver mineralisation in northern Botswana, a region fast becoming a continental centre for battery metals in Africa. The project is held through Atlantis Metals (Pty) Ltd, a Botswana-registered company 90% owned by Aterian plc, and consists of seven granted prospecting licences covering 1,969 km² in a world-class copper belt.

The KCB complements Aterian’s Sua Pan Project, targeting lithium brine in Botswana’s designated Lithium Zone. Together, they contribute to the company’s broader footprint in Botswana’s mineral exploration sector, supporting the nation’s diversification strategy beyond diamonds through targeted critical minerals exploration.

The Kalahari Copperbelt (KCB) Project

Sediment-Hosted Copper Potential in the KCB

The Kalahari Copperbelt is part of a northeast-trending, Proterozoic-aged belt hosting sediment-hosted copper deposits, comparable to the Central African Copperbelt in Zambia and the DRC. The mineralisation is typically stratabound, located within folded and faulted metasedimentary rocks formed during the Damara Orogeny and metamorphosed to greenschist facies.

Copper sulphide minerals occur most often at the base of the D’Kar Formation, particularly at its contact with the Ngwako Pan Formation — a key exploration target across the belt. Despite extensive sand cover, recent discoveries and infrastructure improvements have brought renewed focus to the region.

In 2021, Botswana Power Corporation commissioned the North West Transmission Grid Project, designed to provide reliable power to mining operations in the KCB — further reinforcing the area’s viability for copper exploration in Botswana.

KCB : Reported Highlights

A Compelling Copper and Base Metals Opportunity

The KCB is attracting increasing international interest, including the US$1.73 billion acquisition of the Khoemacau Copper Mine by China’s MMG Ltd in 2024 — a clear signal of the region’s strategic value for base metal development.

With strong geological fundamentals, proximity to infrastructure, and a mining-friendly regulatory environment, Aterian’s KCB licences present a standout base metal investment opportunity in southern Africa. The project aligns with the global push for battery metals and the critical mineral supply chains driving the energy transition.

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