08:58 AM EDT, 07/16/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Giyani Metals ( CATPF ) said Tuesday that it secured a 25-year surface rights leases for the K.Hill manganese project in Botswana and the planned solar farm site.

The company said the surface rights give the company the exclusive right to develop the sites and access sub-surface water for 25 years. The leases are renewable for an additional 25 years.

Giyani said it has applied for the project's mining license as well as special economic zone status for the processing plant.

"The efficiency of Botswana's regulatory process compared to other global jurisdictions will allow Giyani to remain at the forefront of the battery grade manganese industry, as we move rapidly to delivering the [definitive feasibility study] and battery-grade manganese production from the demo plant," said Danny Keating, Giyani's president and CEO.

Giyani's share price surged 16% yesterday to $0.11 on the TSXV.