The TitanBeach titanium project on Morocco’s Atlantic coast has moved to a new stage after Steadright Critical Minerals announced an updated local partnership. NSM Capital has completed an agreement with Moroccan company Homme Construction to establish Shan Tang Mining, which will hold the project claims. NSM Capital will receive a 32 per cent interest without being required to cover exploration or production costs.

TitanBeach lies between Tan-Tan and Tarfaya in the Guelmim-Oued Noun region and covers 192 square kilometres. Within that area, a 16-square-kilometre section received a mining licence from Moroccan authorities on August 12. The project targets heavy mineral sands containing titanium and other minerals.

Earlier samples recorded iron oxide levels of up to 79.5 per cent and titanium dioxide levels of up to 14.9 per cent. The companies have stressed that these sample results do not amount to a confirmed commercial mineral resource. A pilot plant is planned for the first stage, and its results will be used to prepare a longer-term mining plan and guide the installation of additional processing equipment.

Shan Tang Mining has also signed a cooperation agreement with a state-owned engineering and construction group for planning, design, building, operations, maintenance, technology and processing systems. Steadright owns 76.5 per cent of NSM Capital, giving it an indirect interest of about 24.5 per cent in the new company, with an option that could raise its NSM ownership to 80 per cent. The environmental permit has passed public review and is awaiting signature, according to Steadright.