Nova Minerals (ASX:NVA) has received a US$43.4 million ($66.17 million) grant from the US Department of War to streamline production at the Estelle antimony mining operations in Alaska in 2026/2027.
Now with a balance sheet of $86.3 million, the company has begun procuring equipment needed for the Estelle Project and the associated downstream antimony refinery at the deep-water Port Mackenzie in Alaska.
Equipment is set to be delivered to the site in January 2026, ahead of first production later in the year and into the next year – marking the company ahead of schedule.
CEO Christopher Gerteisen says the company is on track to become a “fully-integrated domestic producer of military-grade antimony”.
“As a leader in this critical sector, we are laser focussed on securing a robust domestic supply chain for this vital defence material,” Gerteisen says.
“These assets allow us to begin processing stibnite stockpiles from Estelle into high-value concentrate with further refining at our Port Mackenzie facility.”
Key equipment purchased so far include a mining fleet for onsite operations, a crusher and screening plant, and ore sorters, which will be installed at the Whiskey Bravo camp and Port Mackenzie refinery sites.
Nova is also in the process of procuring infrastructure, including a mill, floatation, and gravity circuits for arrival in early 2026.
The company is advancing front end engineering design and logistics studies to align with the Department of War’s priorities for a stable antimony supply chain, while engaging with strategic investors such as Adelong Gold (ASX:ADG) to strengthen its antimony supply with additional products.
Meanwhile, Nova is currently awaiting assays from a recent drilling program across the greater Estelle Gold Project. Assays are expected to update the project’s resource estimate.
Nova Minerals is a gold, antimony, and critical minerals explorer focused on advancing its Estelle Project which spans 514km2 in Alaska, US.
Write to Maddison Elliott at Mining.com.au
Images: Nova Minerals
