Orion’s Prieska mine a step closer to operational
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Orion’s Prieska mine a step closer to operational
Glencore and Orion have signed a landmark off-take agreement at the Prieska project.
By Leon Louw for the WhyAfrica magazine.
Glencore has given the green light for development at Orion Minerals’ Prieska Copper and Zinc Mine (PCZM) in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa.
The long-awaited funding and off-take agreement is a significant step in Orion’s transition to a fully operational mining company.
The USD250-million prepayment facility is linked to the sale of bulk copper and zinc concentrates from the Prieska mine located at the historic Copperton mining town about 30km outside of Prieska.
According to Orion Managing Director and CEO Tony Lennox, the facility (released in two tranches) will fund development of what the Prieska team refers to as the “Uppers” and allow construction work to get underway at the “Deeps.”
The company expects to start producing first concentrate at the end of quarter one in 2027.
Exploration and optimisation
Meanwhile Lennox says that Orion’s exploration and optimisation programs at the Okiep Copper Project are also progressing well.
“The partnership agreement with BHP’s Xplor program, announced last week, highlights the exceptional potential of our broader Northern Cape portfolio,” says Lennox.
According to Glencore’s Toby Spittle (Copper Marketing), Orion is at one of the most exciting stages of its growth journey.
“We are excited to be part of the restart of copper mining in South Africa’s Northern Cape and look forward to a long future of working together,” says Spittle.
Read more about critical minerals on WhyAfrica
WhyAfrica visited Orion’s PCZM during the 2025 WhyAfrica Road Trip through South Africa, southern Namibia, Eswatini and Lesotho.
To read more about mining, exploration, copper and other critical minerals, visit the WhyAfrica website, your one-stop-shop for on the ground information and business intelligence about Africa.
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Image: Underground at Orion’s Prieska Copper and Zinc Project in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. Image credit: Orion Minerals
Orion’s Prieska a step closer to operational