By: OrePulse

Critical Metals plc (LSE: CRTM) has started its 2026 field programme at the Molulu copper-cobalt project in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the company said, following board approval and the release of funding for the work.

The programme began in the first week of October and includes mobilizing personnel and equipment, site preparation, surveying, mapping, trenching and sampling, and quality-assurance and quality-control procedures. Data gathered in the field will be integrated to help the company assess potential drilling targets.

Molulu sits in the Katangan Copperbelt, about 100 kilometers from Lubumbashi and 30 kilometers northwest of the village of Malambwe, in Katanga territory. The Katangan Copperbelt is one of the world's largest copper and cobalt producing regions, and Molulu has a history of production. Critical Metals holds a 70% interest in the project, with Democratic Republic of Congo-based partners holding the remaining 30%. NIU Invest SE is Critical Metals' majority shareholder, with a 52.07% stake in the company.

Chief executive Danilo Lange said the priority for the field programme is to determine whether an initial target at the site can support what the company described as scout mining — smaller-scale operations used to test a deposit before a larger investment decision is made. The company said it would report initial findings once the data gathered in the field has been validated and reviewed, with those results expected to guide decisions on further drilling at the project.