National Resources Limited (NRL) to announced a significant discovery of copper-gold mineralization in Chagai, Balochistan.
This development was disclosed by Muhammad Ali Tabba, Chairman of NRL and CEO of Lucky Cement, during the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2025.
NRL, fully owned by Pakistani stakeholders and a subsidiary of Fatima Fertilizer, Liberty Mills Limited, and Lucky Cement, received a lease in October 2023. The licensed area included two known porphyry prospects with strong exploration potential. Over the past 15 months, NRL identified 18 new prospects, with one named “Tang Kaur” advancing to an advanced drilling stage.
Mr. Tabba shared that NRL completed 13 diamond drill holes totaling 3,517 meters, all intersecting significant mineralization. Assay results from the first six drill holes indicated strongly mineralized, near-surface zones with downhole intervals ranging from 48 to 148 meters, using a 0.2% copper cut-off grade. The average grade ranged from 0.23% to 0.48% copper, 0.09 to 0.14 g/t gold, and 1.30 to 6.21 g/t silver, culminating in a copper equivalent of 0.28% to 0.56%. The system remains open to the north, east, and at depth.
Advanced drilling at Tang Kaur is set for May 2025, leading to an NI 43-101 Technical Report by year-end by international experts overseeing the project. This will precede 3-4 years of exploration and feasibility studies, with ongoing exploration of other prospects.
Furthermore, NRL acquired a Lead-Zinc exploration license near a well-known deposit, where a Bankable Feasibility Study has been conducted. A comprehensive metal value chain is under study to evaluate downstream processing feasibility.
NRL prioritizes Indigenous populations as key stakeholders, supporting social development through initiatives in clean water, education, healthcare, and local employment. The local employment ratio exceeds 90%. NRL encourages industry-academia collaboration and remains committed to sustainability, believing mining prospers when local communities benefit directly.
NRL is collaborating with the Government of Balochistan and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to secure two additional Copper-Gold Exploration licenses in Chagai, supported by a $100 million exploration fund. An MOU has been signed with Oil and Gas Development Company for joint efforts on newly acquired leases. NRL plans to attract more national and international investors as needed.
The company expressed gratitude to the GoB and SIFC for their support and cooperation. NRL is dedicated to advancing mineral development in Balochistan, aiming for Pakistan-led exploration and encouraging domestic companies to join the mining sector for Balochistan’s and Pakistan’s growth.