(Alliance News) - Sovereign Metals Ltd on Wednesday said that a shipment of ore from its project in Malawi has been handed to a laboratory in South Africa to be tested.

The mining exploration and development company, with assets in Malawi, sent 30 tonnes of graphite ore to undergo testing by South African engineering consultants Paterson & Cooke.

The delivered material is representative of ore expected to be mined during the first 10 years of production. In the laboratory, specific parameters related to the mining, transportation, and handling of the ore will be tested to optimise the technical elements of the project.

Sovereign Managing Director Frank Eagar said: "This represents a significant step in our ongoing project delivery. Importantly, it also demonstrates the effectiveness of the day-to-day technical involvement of our strategic investor, Rio Tinto, in assisting Sovereign with the Kasiya project optimisation and bringing this tier one project closer to development."

Sovereign shares were down 0.6% to 24.35 pence in London on Wednesday afternoon.

By Elijah Dale, Alliance News reporter

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