AKORA Resources (ASX: AKO) has completed several key milestones as it prepares to finalise its pre-feasibility study (PFS) for the Bekisopa high-grade direct shipping ore (DSO) project in Madagascar.

The company has confirmed the completion of geotechnical and hydrological drilling at Bekisopa, with the PFS scheduled for completion in early 2025.

The Bekisopa stage 1 project is advancing through the PFS requirements, with significant progress made during the quarter on several critical tasks.

Geotechnical drilling

A major focus of the PFS has been the 400-metre, eight-hole drilling program completed in July that covered the proposed DSO mining pits across the project’s southern, central and northern regions.

AKORA subsequently sent the geotechnical samples to the ALS Perth laboratory in for analysis and assay results are expected at the end of November, followed by a mineralogy assessment.

The geotechnical program was designed to provide rock strength data for the mine design team, who will prepare the mining pit shapes for the DSO material.

It will also confirm the competency of the iron ore resource to determine if drilling and blasting or simple machine ripping will be necessary before excavation.

The company said the program results had shown that the DSO resource has low competency, meaning it is unlikely to require drilling and blasting, which is expected to reduce complexity and operating costs for Stage 1.

Hydrogeology work

Another key task completed during the quarter was a four-hole hydrogeology drilling program, with two holes drilled to 150m and the other two to 70m.

The program was designed to assess water levels and recharge capacity to consider the water system for future operational requirements.

It also provides baseline information on the location and quality of subsurface water resources, supporting the environmental management plan.

Subsurface water

A crucial component was to determine the presence of subsurface water levels and assess any impact on mine pit designs or the need for dewatering infrastructure.

Initial data has shown that subsurface water is present at approximately 30m depth with reasonable inflows found at 55m.

AKORA management noted that this is favourable since the DSO pits are not expected to operate below 30m, likely reducing the need for water removal and suggesting the minimal water requirements of the DSO processing phase would be met.

The data will be utilised by consultants Wardell Armstrong International, to develop site water models and support the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment.

Bekisopa progress

AKORA is advancing plans at Bekisopa to produce up to 2 million tonnes per annum of  minimum-60% iron grade DSO for export to blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace steelmakers.

AKORA is optimistic that the project’s high-grade iron ore may also be upgraded in the future to a minimum-68% iron concentrate at 75 microns.

This would allow for shipment to direct reduced iron-electric arc furnace steelmakers to produce greener steel with no coal needed and reduced carbon emissions.