Native Mineral Resources (ASX:NMR) will begin gold production at the Blackjack Processing Plant as it is energised for operation in July, intending for plant and mining operations to be attainable with supporting infrastructure.
While the company is continuing to finalise water and air services installation in support of the wet commissioning, dry commissioning is now underway across all major areas of the plant.
The plant is being handed to the commissioning team to progress electrical and instrumentation works including the finalisation of lighting installation, motor control centre and uninterruptible power supply systems, and overall energisation of key areas for dry commissioning.
To support the pit design, modelling, and grade control planning, Native Minerals will continue resource infill drilling at the prospect on top of its completed 10,000m of drilling.
Native Minerals has completed dewatering, excavation, and staged benching at the open pit to prepare for readiness and expose ore zones.
While the company is still attending to waste removal and surface preparation in hopes of mining commencement in Q3 2025, water accumulation is being monitored for the broader dewatering strategy.
Meanwhile, the Tailings Storage Facility is now scheduled for completion by the end of this month, with the company only remaining to complete upstream embarkment lift on the western wall, as well as finalising installation of the tailings pipeline network.
The company is currently installing associated valves, spigots, and pipe fittings to meet commissioning requirements.
Managing Director Blake Cannavo says that as Native Minerals moves closer towards production at the plant, the company is approaching an operational “milestone” that allows the plant to be energised and commissions mining readiness.
“The Blackjack open pit is established, critical infrastructure is in place, and our Blackjack processing facility is entering the final stages of preparation,” Cannavo says.
“This momentum reflects the strength of our execution teams and the capability of our partners. We are confident in our trajectory toward first gold in July.”
Native Mineral Resources is an Australian gold and base metals explorer with a range of projects spanning north Queensland.
The company will be attending the Noosa Mining Investor Conference, held between 23-25 July, at the Peppers Noosa Resort. Mining.com.au is an official media partner of this year’s conference.
Write to Maddison Elliott at Mining.com.au
Images: Native Mineral Resources
