Askari Metals Ltd (ASX:AS2) has launched a systematic regional exploration campaign at its flagship Nejo Gold and Copper Project in central-western Ethiopia, targeting high-grade, shallow gold and copper mineralisation across two major gold corridors.
The 1,174-square-kilometre project, situated in the underexplored Arabian-Nubian Shield and surrounding the 1.7-million-ounce Tulu Kapi gold mine, is considered one of the company’s most prospective brownfields assets. Initial reconnaissance work is now under way, with trenching, mapping and sampling planned to refine drill targets ahead of a fourth-quarter 2025 campaign.
“Commencing fieldwork to validate and expand upon historical exploration is a key step in unlocking the potential of the Nejo Project,” said Askari executive director Gino D’Anna.
“Our immediate focus will be on the high-grade Guliso and Guji-Gudeya Trends, where past trenching and drilling confirmed significant shallow mineralisation,” he added. “This initial reconnaissance program — including mapping, soil sampling and rock sampling — lays the foundation for a focused drilling campaign.”
High-priority trends with near-term drilling upside
The exploration program is focused on two parallel, northeast-trending gold corridors:
- The Guliso Trend, with a strike of about 10 kilometres, hosts four targets: Soyoma, Dina, Chago and South Chago. These areas returned high-grade trenching and drilling results in past campaigns but have seen limited follow-up.
- The Guji-Gudeya Trend, extending about 9 kilometres, includes drill-ready prospects at Guji, Komto 1 and Komto 2. This zone lies west of Tulu Kapi and is geologically comparable, with gold hosted in quartz veins across meta-sedimentary and volcanic units.
Askari plans to begin drilling at Guji, Komto 1 and Komto 2 in the final quarter of 2025, following the completion of soil and rock sampling and geological mapping now in progress.
“Previous exploration identified high-grade mineralisation, yet lacked a coherent, modern strategy,” D’Anna said. “That’s where we see a clear opportunity — by applying disciplined, data-driven exploration, we aim to rapidly advance these targets and unlock significant value.”
Copper potential at Katta
In parallel with gold exploration, Askari is designing a dedicated field program for the Katta copper target in the northwest of the project area, where historical data suggests high-grade mineralisation.
The company will validate earlier exploration results as part of a broader push to define multi-metal opportunities across the Nejo tenure.
District-scale opportunity on the Arabian-Nubian Shield
Nejo is strategically located on the same greenstone belt as Allied Gold’s 3.4-million-ounce Kurmuk project and adjacent to Kefi Gold and Copper’s Tulu Kapi deposit. Historical exploration across the region has identified a range of high-grade targets, but systematic modern exploration has been limited.
The company sees strong potential to delineate a maiden JORC-compliant resource at Nejo through a multi-stage exploration strategy. This includes compiling and reinterpreting historic datasets, executing airborne geophysical surveys, and pursuing both reverse circulation and diamond drilling.
Local engagement and long-term vision
Askari has committed to building strong relationships with local stakeholders, regional authorities, and community representatives throughout its operations in Ethiopia.
“As we advance exploration, we remain deeply committed to working collaboratively with all key stakeholders across the region,” D’Anna said. “We believe strongly in building long-term, transparent relationships and ensuring our activities contribute positively to sustainable in-country development and economic impact.”
The launch of exploration at Nejo marks a significant step in Askari’s broader strategy to establish itself as a leading gold and copper explorer in Africa. The company is also advancing lithium and uranium assets in Namibia and Tanzania, respectively.