Tando Resources Ltd. secured the mining right for its SPD vanadium project in South Africa, allowing it to start a two-pronged drilling program in August.

The company said July 27 that the mining right grant completes the due diligence process, and it expects to complete the acquisition of a 73.95% stake in the project in late August.

The first phase of drilling will comprise 18 holes for 1,650 meters at the SPD deposit, which hosts 513 million tonnes grading 0.78% vanadium oxide, defined under the South African Code for the Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves.

The drilling will look to convert the resource to a JORC-compliant mineral resource estimate by October.