BHP boost for South African exploration
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BHP boost for South African exploration
South Africa’s exploration sector gets a vote of confidence.
By Leon Louw for the WhyAfrica magazine.
In what is great news for South Africa’s mineral exploration sector several of Orion Minerals’ projects in the country have been selected to join the 2026 BHP Xplor accelerator program.
This means that several of Orion’s projects in the Northern Cape will receive up to USD500,000 in equity-free funding; technical, commercial and operational mentoring and access to BHP specialists and networks.
Orion’s flagship Prieska Copper Zinc Mine and the New Okiep Mining Company ‘Flat Mines Project’ are not participants in the program, as these projects are further advanced, with development plans in place.
The Prieska team is currently in negotiations to sign an off-take and financing agreement with Glencore.
Fast tracking new discovery opportunities
BHP’ Xplor programme is designed to fast-track promising exploration ideas and new discovery opportunities, especially for critical minerals needed in the energy transition.
According to Tony Lennox, Orion’s Managing Director and CEO this is a significant milestone for Orion and a strong endorsement of the potential of the company’s Northern Cape exploration portfolio.
In addition to Prieska and Okiep, Orion’s other key exploration projects in the Northern Cape include the Jacomynspan (JMP) Battery Metals Project and the Areachap Exploration Projects.
JMP is a significant nickel-copper-cobalt-PGE and gold project about 65km north of Prieska.
Opportunities in the Areachap Belt
In addition, Orion holds an extensive tenement footprint across the Areachap Belt which is an under-explored metallogenic corridor with high potential for new discoveries.
Areachap’s exploration targets include the Masiqhame project, Orion Exploration No. 1 target, Kantienpan Zn-CU Prospect, Boksputs copper and zinc and additional JMP style intrusives.
WhyAfrica visited Orion’s Prieska and Okiep projects during the 2025 WhyAfrica Road Trip. You can read more about it in our WhyAfrica magazines and WhyAfrica Road Trip Review Report, available in WhyAfrica’s online shop.
WhyAfrica tracks and visits early- stage exploration projects across Africa.
WhyAfrica specialises in the sustainable use, and responsible development of Africa’s natural resources.
Image: In addition to Prieska and Okiep, Orion has several other ongoing exploration projects in South Africa. Image credit: Orion Minerals
BHP boost for South African exploration