Lifezone Metals Advances Kabanga Nickel Project Toward 2026 Final Investment Decision
Fully Funded for Current Activities Following
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Overview of the Kabanga camp, located in northwestern
Following the
Highlights
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$75 million raised in the second half of 2025, fully funding current pre-FID activities (refer to Lifezone’sSeptember 2, 2025 andNovember 12, 2025 news releases). - Early works activities are underway including underground and surface geotechnical drilling contracts to support final designs, with mobilization and site preparation in progress.
- Zero health, safety, environmental or security incidents reported in the second half of 2025.
- Site surveys and perimeter demarcation activities are advancing as part of the ongoing camp upgrades. With the installation of new leased accommodation units, the camp can now house around 300 people.
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Reliable grid power continues to be provided by
Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) the main power source for Kabanga, with availability at 94% for November, and consistently above 90% for this year. -
Infrastructure coordination is ongoing with TANESCO power line upgrade agreements advancing,
Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) rail logistics engagement ongoing and consultations with road authorities in progress. -
Lifezone’s local subsidiary,
Tembo Nickel , received the Compliance Excellence Award from theMwanza Regional Commissioner for environmental and regulatory performance in the month of October. -
Kabanga Updated Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) awaiting
National Environment Management Council (NEMC) approval, with the international standards Environment and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and ESMP completed inJune 2025 . -
U.S. International Development Finance Council (DFC) Environmental and Social public consultation and due diligence completed for theKabanga Nickel Project . - The Kabanga Environment and Social Action Plan has been integrated into pre-FID activities.
- Cash compensation payments completed for 97% of Project Affected Households and interest payments completed for 95% of Project Affected Households.
- Kabanga Resettlement Action Plan aligned with IFC Performance Standards and Tanzanian regulations.
- Kabanga Household Well-Being and Livelihood survey completed to further understand impacts to Project Affected People.
- Co-design of Livelihood Restoration activities to commence in early 2026.
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Mukubu Primary School classroom upgrades are 99% complete as part of this year’s Corporate Social Responsibility commitments. -
Lifezone’s local subsidiary,
Tembo Nickel , has launched its new website to provide stakeholders with improved transparency and access to project updates, community initiatives, procurement and local hiring opportunities. -
Currently 97% of
Tembo Nickel employees are Tanzanian nationals, and the Project Labor Plan for the project execution phase is well progressed. -
Lifezone Tanzanian operations continue to operate as normal post-elections in late October and the commemoration of
Independence Day inTanzania on 9th December. Our organization is pleased that the country remained peaceful this week and no major demonstrations were reported countrywide. -
Lifezone will host several project finance related site visits from mid-January, including a pre-Mining Indaba site visit for shareholders to the
Kabanga Nickel Project onFebruary 4-6, 2026 , hosted by COOGerick Mouton and CFOIngo Hofmaier .
Upcoming catalysts
- Q1 2026: Mobilization of geotechnical drilling, procurement strategy finalization and RFT issuances for priority packages.
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Mid-2026: Targeted FID for
Kabanga Nickel Project and financial close of multi-source funding package. - Post-FID: Commencement of EPCM and major bulk earthworks, including North boxcut and underground development.
Update on the strategic financing process
Lifezone continues to advance a multi-track financing strategy, and is actively engaged in advanced discussions with several major strategic and financial investors and off-takers regarding potential project-level investments, long-term strategic partnerships, or value accretive project divestiture. While negotiations are progressing, no agreements have been reached and Lifezone is under no obligation to proceed with any transaction.
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On 8th December, her Excellency Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the
United Republic of Tanzania , held talks withthe United States Ambassador toTanzania ,Andrew Lentz to advance key areas of bilateral cooperation, with discussions centered on finalizing the investment agreements for theKabanga Nickel Project , and two other strategic natures resources projects inTanzania that are nearing project financing. -
Over the last months roadshows and in-person meetings have been held with various Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) and commercial banks, with particular focus on
Europe ,Japan ,South Africa ,Tanzania andthe United States . - A shortlist of potential cornerstone financiers has been identified, in coordination with procurement and offtake streams to identify target lending support.
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Additionally, and in parallel, the procurement strategy is being refined with
DRA Global and Lifezone’s technical team to optimize the tied export credit support. - The bankability review of the Kabanga Feasibility Study has been completed with debt sizing and lender model agreed. The high-grade nature of the Kabanga deposit and the resulting healthy profitability results in above market debt capacity.
- Lender advisors have been appointed for technical, environmental, social and commercial areas and the due diligence has commenced in all critical areas.
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All required technical / EPCM consultants appointed and the project critical path packages have started the
Mining Commission procurement process.
Figure 1: Overview of the Kabanga camp, located in northwestern
Strategically important nickel project
As outlined in the
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After-tax NPV (8%):
$1.58 billion & IRR: 23.3%
Refer to Lifezone’s
Figure 2: CRU Group’s nickel all-in sustaining costs for 2025.
DATA: CRU Nickel Cost Model and CRU Nickel Asset Services. Cost estimates for the
Figure 3: Kabanga General Manager receiving the Compliance Excellence Award from the
Figure 4: Construction of two new classrooms at
Figure 5: Images of the 33-kilovolt power line connecting the Kabanga camp to the regional power grid.
Figure 6: The Lifezone and
Figure 7: 3D model of the Kabanga site looking east showing the 3.4 Mtpa concentrator and the North Boxcut with the twin declines and associated infrastructure
LZM shareholders to secure their spot for the Pre-Mining Indaba site visit to Kabanga (
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Investor Relations –
SVP: Investor Relations & Capital Markets
evan.young@lifezonemetals.com
Investor Relations –
Chief Financial Officer
ingo.hofmaier@lifezonemetals.com
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