Ferrex (LON:FRX) has beefed up its management team in West Africa with the appointment of a general manager to help fast track its Nayega manganese project in northern Togo.
Justin Longley, 46, is a 20–year veteran of projects in Africa, and has previously worked in Angola, Zambia and the DRC.
Ferrex said that as well helping Nayega publish a maiden resource this quarter, Longley will contribute to the evaluation of other potential deals in West Africa.
The company added it is looking at projects requiring low capital expenditure and close to infrastructure to complement the Malelane iron ore project and Leinster manganese project in South Africa.
Dave Reeves, Ferrex’s managing director, said: "I am delighted to welcome Justin as General Manager of West Africa during this exciting time of development at our Togolese Nayega manganese project where we are on target to produce a maiden JORC compliant resource by the end of June 2012.
This is a highly prospective asset, which geology suggests is suitable to a shallow open pit operation with a total exploration target of 6-8.5Mt @14-25.5 per cent Mn, which we believe offers shareholders near term value uplift potential."
"I am confident that Justin's extensive experience in evaluating and developing mining projects will prove highly advantageous to the company on both an operational and corporate level going forward," Reeves added.