Namibian Uranium and Irish Zinc: A Big 2026 Ahead for Arkle Resources

Arkle Resources has made a decisive strategic move. And it’s one that could quickly bring renewed attention to this under-the-radar energy metals explorer.

Earlier this month, the company expanded into uranium, acquiring a majority stake in a highly prospective licence package in Namibia. Better still, it’s funded to advance it immediately, with a structured two-phase exploration and drilling programme launching this week.

The new uranium exposure complements a portfolio that already includes a significant zinc project in Ireland.

And now, with a strengthened management team also in place and a growing list of catalysts on the horizon, successful delivery could have a meaningful impact on Arkle’s current £7.5 million market cap.

Let’s take a closer look…

What has Arkle done?
Arkle has acquired an 85% interest in Namibia Uranium, which holds four exclusive prospecting licences in the Erongo Region of Namibia.

At the same time, the company has strengthened its board. Rory Harding joins as Interim-CEO, Robin Birchall as Non-Executive Director, and Mark Burnett as Strategic Adviser. Between them, they bring a blend of African operational experience and capital markets expertise well suited to guiding Arkle through its next phase of growth.

So why uranium, and why now?
Arkle’s view is that we’re at the beginning of a sustained global nuclear expansion cycle.

Years of underinvestment and mine closures have constrained supply. Meanwhile, demand is being reinforced by energy security concerns, decarbonisation targets, and the development of small modular reactors.

The value of uranium has been responding as the structural supply gap becomes more widely recognised. This is clear in the rising long-term contract price in the chart below...

5-year Uranium Price— Spot and Long-term (Source: Cameco)

Namibia is a logical jurisdiction for Arkle to position for that trend.

It is the world’s third-largest uranium producer and a recognised tier-one supplier to global utilities.

The Erongo region, where Arkle’s licences are based, alone hosts approximately 1.2 billion pounds of U₃O₈ in defined resources and has produced more than 350 million pounds over the past 45 years.

More specifically, Arkle’s licences sit in prime company:

• Adjacent to Trekkopje, one of the most significant calcrete-hosted uranium deposits globally

• Contiguous to Marenica, where resource grades have recently improved

• Next to Rössing, a long-life producing uranium mine operating since 1976

  

Arkle’s uranium licences and their proximity to existing projects (Source: Arkle)

Early-stage work has already identified significant radiometric and geochemical anomalies across all four licences.

Meanwhile, surface sampling in 2025 returned grades of up to 3,855 ppm U₃O₈ from shallow pits less than half a metre deep.

In other words, these are shallow, clearly defined targets in a proven uranium district, with good infrastructure and year-round access.

What happens next?
Arkle is embarking upon a substantial, funded 2026 work programme, split into two phases. And it’s not waiting around to get things going...

Phase 1, which kicked off this week, includes:

• Three horizontal loop electromagnetic surveys

• A large airborne radiometric and magnetic survey across key licences

• Mapping and review of historical drilling

Arkle has contracted Xcalibur Smart Mapping to undertake more than 12,000 line-kilometres of airborne surveying at tight 50m spacing, a significant dataset for refined target generation.

Phase 2, which is targeted for H2 this year, includes:

• Follow-up mapping and sampling

• Target refinement

• Up to 4,000 metres of RC drilling

If drilling delivers, the pathway could lead to infill work and the potential for a maiden resource estimate in 2027.

Beyond Namibia
Alongside its uranium pivot, Arkle holds additional energy metals exposure through its 22.36% stake in the Stonepark zinc project in Ireland. The remaining majority interest is held by Group Eleven Resources, which is leading exploration across the project.

This project remains highly significant.

Stonepark hosts an inferred resource of 5.1 million tonnes grading 11.3% combined zinc and lead and sits adjacent to Glencore’s large Pallas Green deposit.

The geological thesis is that the Carrickittle area could represent a “mirror image” of the mineralising system at Pallas Green, with last drilling intersecting a major fault structure associated with mineralisation, and follow-up holes demonstrating proximity to stronger zones.

Crucially, further step-out drilling is planned both around the existing resource and at Carrickittle West; a target described by Group Eleven’s CEO as one of the best drill targets in Ireland.

A stacked catalyst pipeline
At a market capitalisation of around £7.5 million, the market is arguably attributing little value to Arkle’s new Namibian uranium portfolio right now.

Yet that portfolio is fully funded and active exploration has commenced. Over the next 12–18 months, investors can expect steady newsflow, including airborne survey results, target refinement and initial RC drilling.

Meanwhile, Arkle also appears undervalued on its Stonepark exposure alone. Its partner at the project, Group Eleven, is currently valued at approximately C$200 million. Further drilling success at Stonepark could materially enhance the perceived value of the project – and Arkle’s 22.36% stake.

With work advancing across uranium in Namibia and zinc in Ireland, catalysts are building through 2026.

If Namibia delivers and Stonepark drilling expands the system, market interest could increase quickly. At this valuation level, that could prove meaningful.

Check out Arkle’s recently updated website for more.