Askari Metals Ltd (ASX:AS2) has welcomed experienced geologist Lachlan Reynolds as technical consultant to support the company’s African-focused exploration activities, particularly at the recently acquired Nejo Gold Project in Ethiopia.
The appointment comes as Askari advances compilation and digitisation of historical exploration data at Nejo and prepares to mobilise its in-country team for a maiden exploration campaign. Previous exploration at Nejo identified significant high-grade gold and copper mineralisation, yet the area remains largely untested using modern exploration techniques.
Reynolds brings more than 30 years of experience in Australian and international mineral exploration, including a 12-year tenure with WMC Resources Ltd. His senior leadership roles have included general manager of African Energy Resources Limited, managing director of Energy Ventures Ltd, and CEO of East African Copper Ltd.
He has worked extensively across Africa, including in Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and Kenya, and brings expertise across the full project lifecycle from greenfields through to feasibility and development.
Lachlan Reynolds joins Askari as technical consultant.
Askari is focused on establishing a Tier-1 gold portfolio within the highly prospective Arabian-Nubian Shield — a largely underexplored, mineral-rich frontier known to host major gold and copper deposits. The company continues to build its technical capabilities in Ethiopia while strengthening relationships with government and industry stakeholders.
Askari executive director Gino D’Anna spoke with Proactive recently regarding a significant development at Nejo, where high-grade copper mineralisation has now been confirmed.
District-scale gold and copper opportunity
Askari’s Nejo Project is a large-scale, advanced brownfields gold and copper asset situated in central-western Ethiopia, within a mining-friendly jurisdiction. The project spans 1,174 square kilometres across the highly prospective Arabian-Nubian Shield — one of the world’s last underexplored, mineral-rich frontier belts known to host several large-scale gold and copper deposits.
Tier-1 geological setting
The Nejo Project is located within the same greenstone belt as Allied Gold’s 3.4 million-ounce Kurmuk Mine and surrounds the 1.7 million-ounce Tulu Kapi Mine owned by Kefi Gold and Copper, highlighting its Tier-1 geological credentials.
The project hosts 10 proven targets, including Guji, Komto 1 and Komto 2, all supported by drilling and trenching. Despite this, limited follow-up has been conducted, and no modern, systematic exploration has been undertaken to date.
Strong exploration pedigree
Nejo covers more than 60 kilometres of strike along the Tulu Dimtu Shear Belt, with robust historical datasets that include drilling, trenching, and both soil and rock sampling — providing a strong foundation for ongoing exploration.
The project offers exposure to both high-grade copper and gold mineralisation, enhancing its strategic value.
Askari continues to build a Tier-1 gold portfolio focused on Ethiopia at a time when the gold price remains strong, trading above US$3,300 per ounce.