Alecto Energy PLC (LON:ALO) plans to begin an exploration programme across its licences in Mauritania at the end of the month, targeting gold and base metal deposits.
Earlier this month, the resource investment company appointed consultants SRK Exploration Services (SRK ES) to develop and advance its gold and base metal licences in the country.
The initial focus will be on the Wad Amour and Zreibya gold and base metal licences to enhance the understanding of highly prospective project areas and identify key areas of interest for development and drilling.
Alecto holds three highly prospective licences in Mauritania for three gold and base metal sites in Chegar, Wad Armour and Zreibya totalling 1,902 square kilometres. These were identified following fieldwork and analysis of historic data conducted by the company's consulting partner, O'Connor International Ltd, in conjunction with SRK ES.
It also owns two uranium licences, Mreiti and Wad Mourkba, spanning 1,592 square kilometres.
Geochemical sampling results seen previously by SRK ES in May 2010 demonstrated the existence of uranium values at the sites and, as part of SRK ES's exploration programme, initial exploratory and data analysis will be conducted at Mreiti and Wad Mourkba in tandem with the exploration programme at Zreibya and Wad Amour.
Alecto executive director Damian Conboy said: “In tandem with this, we continue to evaluate assets, predominantly in West Africa, with a view to strengthening our footprint in the resource sector. We are optimistic about a number of these and will make further announcements at the appropriate time."