Sovereign Metals Limited (ASX:SVM) (FRA:SVM) has appointed Paul Marcos, an engineering and consulting expert with considerable mineral sands experience, as head of development for the Kasiya Rutile Project in Malawi.
According to the company, Marcos’ appointment will bring deep mineral sands metallurgical processing, engineering and operations expertise.
As head of development, he will lead and manage key technical components of the Kasiya Project, including the ongoing scoping study due for completion this year and also for future feasibility study programs.
“Relevant technical experience”
Sovereign’s managing director Julian Stephens said: “We are very pleased to welcome Paul to our team.
“He brings significant relevant technical experience and enthusiasm for mineral sands.
“Attracting individuals of this calibre to the Sovereign team is a huge endorsement of the Kasiya Project.
“Having managed process engineering and given his involvement in feasibility studies for a number of African mineral sands projects, Paul is uniquely qualified to lead key technical components in developing the Kasiya Project.”
Underpins company's commitment
Following the maiden mineral resource estimate delivered in June 2021 which confirmed the Kasiya Project as one of the world’s largest undeveloped rutile projects, Marcos’ appointment underpins Sovereign’s commitment to rapidly advance the project.
A scoping study is targeting a large-scale natural rutile operation to fill some of the existing supply deficit with the purest and most environmentally sustainable titanium feedstock.
Experience and expertise
Marcos has more than 27 years of operations, engineering and consulting experience, the majority of this in mineral sands.
Most recently, Marcos was working with Base Resources Limited (LON:BSE) (ASX:BSE), where he spent five years and served as metallurgical and processing superintendent – project development.
At Base, he also worked on pre-feasibility studies, definitive feasibility studies and engineering design studies for the Kwale North and Kwale Phase 2 Projects in Kenya as well as the Toliara Project in Madagascar.
Between 1996 and 2004, Marcos was working with mineral sands producer Iluka Resources Limited and had also served as a senior technical consultant at TZ Minerals International (TZMI), a company that specialises in all aspects of the mineral sands, titanium dioxide and coatings industries.
Marcos had also worked at global engineering firm Ausenco Ltd as a lead process engineer for numerous mineral sands and bulk commodities projects with a focus on flowsheet development, process engineering and test-work.