Proactive Investors - Altona Rare Earths PLC (LON:REEA), the mining company, revealed it appointed copper exploration expert David Catterall as a consultant, according to an update on Monday.
Catterall will join with a focus on Altona’s Sesana copper-silver project in Botswana, working closely with chief executive Cedric Simonet.
Bringing more than three and a half decades of experience in mineral exploration, the Altona consultant has worked as a geologist on operational and field-based projects in Africa and Europe focused on a range of commodities.
Simonet said: "David is considered as an expert of the Kalahari Copper Belt, where the Sesana project is located, and we are delighted to have him on board.
“His superior knowledge of the Kalahari Copper Belt will be of immediate benefit to Altona as we are preparing this year's exploration programme.”
Simonet also mentioned how growing copper prices, which surged to over US$10,000 last week, have led to increased M&A across miners like Teck, BHP and Glencore (LON:GLEN).
“[Copper] has become one of the most in-demand globally… The green energy transition is expected to drive the copper demand increase over the next two decades and beyond, and Altona believes it has entered the copper market at the right time," Simonet added.