London-listed URU Metals has entered the final commercial stage of selecting a drilling contractor for its planned programme at the Zeb nickel project in Limpopo, South Africa.

The company has requested final proposals from qualified diamond-drilling contractors following completion of a 3D Leapfrog geological model and drill plan earlier this month, Creamer Media reported on September 15, 2026.

Contractor selection will consider commercial terms, rig availability, mobilisation schedules, technical capability and health and safety performance. URU intends to begin site mobilisation as soon as practicable after the appointment.

Initial drilling will target higher-grade Zone 2 mineralisation as the company works towards establishing a maiden mineral resource estimate.

Target 1 will also receive early attention because of its potential to host semi-massive to massive nickel, copper and platinum-group-element sulphides.

The programme will be phased, with priority given to drilling expected to provide the greatest potential to advance the project.

URU exploration manager Richard Montjoie said the completed geological model had enabled the company to move the programme into the contractor-selection stage.

“We have now converted the drill plan into a contractor-ready programme, and we are in the final commercial stage of selecting the drilling team, with particular focus on capability, rig availability and mobilisation. We are excited to mobilise to site and start turning the geological model into new data,” Montjoie said.