Ongwe Minerals Launches Drilling Campaign at Nguni Prospect in Namibia

Ongwe Minerals Inc. has commenced a maiden drilling campaign at its newly discovered Nguni gold prospect in Namibia, marking a significant step in the company’s exploration efforts. The Nguni prospect, located 17 kilometers east of the Manga Gold discovery, is part of the Omatjete Gold Project, which is strategically situated along the regional Okondeka Fault Zone.

The drilling campaign, which will involve two drill rigs, aims to explore the high-grade gold-in-soil anomaly, which spans an impressive 6 kilometers in strike length. The first rig, a diamond drill, will focus on the highest-grade portions of the soil anomaly, with an initial plan of 18 holes totaling 3,500 meters. The second rig, a reverse circulation (RC) drill, will test the strike extension of the soil anomaly, with 13 holes planned for 1,500 meters.

In addition to the Nguni prospect, Ongwe Minerals Inc. has also initiated a step-out diamond drill program to test the eastern extension of the Manga Gold Prospect. This program will involve five holes for 1,000 meters, targeting the higher-grade and wider portions of the bedrock anomaly defined earlier in the year.

Dave Underwood, CEO of Ongwe Minerals Inc., commented, "The central portion of the Nguni gold anomaly has now been closely defined by infill soil sampling, with 50 soil samples above 300 parts per billion (ppb) of gold, peaking at 1,310 ppb. This represents a 6-kilometer-long, high-grade soil anomaly similar in scale and tenor to the anomaly at the neighboring Kokoseb gold deposit, before it was drilled. We are now embarking on the maiden, fully funded drill program at this exciting target."

The Nguni anomaly was discovered by Ongwe during regional soil sampling along the Okondeka Fault System in May 2026. The initial regional sampling was carried out on a 200 x 200-meter grid and later infilled to 50 x 50 meters over the anomalous areas. The Nguni area is flat-lying, with very little outcrop visible. The gold anomaly lies along narrow zones of metasediments between late to post-orogenic granites and appears to be in-situ within residual soils.

The two-pronged drill program at Nguni includes a diamond drill program of approximately 18 holes for 3,500 meters, starting in the northwest corner of the anomaly and covering the higher-grade soils in the northwestern and southeastern portions. A scout drill program of approximately 1,500 meters using an RC rig will test the lower priority targets to establish economic potential and prioritize further exploration.

The Company’s exploration efforts at the Manga Prospect, located 17 kilometers west of Nguni, are also ongoing. The Manga prospect was discovered during the initial regional Omatjete soil sampling program carried out in the fourth quarter of 2024. The 200 x 200-meter regional soil grid outlined an arsenic and gold anomaly approximately 4.5 kilometers long and 1 kilometer wide at its widest point. Infill sampling to 100 x 25 meters tightened up the surface anomaly and provided follow-up targets.

Ongwe Minerals Inc. is focused on the discovery and advancement of new gold systems in Namibia, with a particular emphasis on the Omatjete and Khorixas Gold Projects. The Omatjete Project, which is strategically located along the regional Okondeka Fault Zone, has significant growth potential, and work is ongoing to define further anomalies along the fault system.

The Company’s current exploration techniques include the use of the detectORE™ analytical technique, which enables the measurement of trace gold concentrations in geological samples using a portable X-Ray Fluorescence (pXRF) instrument. This method overcomes traditional limitations of gold analysis by pXRF, including low gold concentrations and metal peak interference. The detectORE™ system has performed well in identifying the same anomalies as laboratory techniques in all conditions.