West Coast Silver (ASX:WCE) has appointed Executive Director Serge Smolonogov as CEO, effective immediately, to lead resource growth and development studies at the Elizabeth Hill Silver Project in West Australia’s West Pilbara region.
The board says single-point accountability for Elizabeth Hill is now needed as the company enters its next phase of resource definition and project evaluation.
Smolonogov brings 30 years of mine geology and resource development experience with Barrick (NYSE:B), KAZ Minerals, Nevsun Resources, Alacer Gold, and Adriatic Metals, where he served as general manager growth and development prior to its acquisition by DPM Metals (TSX:DPM) in September 2025.
Smolonogov joined West Coast Silver as technical director in February 2026 and was appointed executive director and chief technical officer on 5 August 2026.
Chairman Vince Fayad says Smolonogov has been the “technical driving force” at Elizabeth Hill since joining the company.
“[Serge] built the growth and development plan the company is now executing, and he comes to us from the team that took Adriatic Metals’ Vares silver operation into production and on to a US$1.25 billion [$1.74 billion] acquisition,” Fayad says.
Smolonogov says Elizabeth Hill “produced 1.2 million ounces of silver at better than 2,000 grams per tonne and was then shut in 2000 because silver was worth US$5 an ounce”.
“Silver is not US$5 an ounce anymore, and the deposit was never closed out,” Smolonogov says.
“My job is to turn the above into hard numbers the market can price: an updated resource, the metallurgy and geotechnical work that stands behind it, and a Scoping Study that says plainly what Elizabeth Hill can be.
“I took this job because the chance to lead a silver project of this grade, at this point in the silver cycle, does not come along often.”
The Elizabeth Hill Silver Project historically produced 1.2 million ounces (Moz) of silver (Ag) at 2,194 grams per tonne Ag from 16,830 tonnes of ore before closing in 2000. It hosts a mineral resource estimate of 141,000 tonnes @ 617g/t Ag for 2.8Moz of contained Ag, with 86% classified as inferred.
The project sits 12km from the Radio Hill processing facility, with a memorandum of understanding in place to evaluate processing options.
Recent drilling at Elizabeth Hill intersected 27.4m @ 1,314g/t Ag, remaining open along strike and at depth.
Over the next six months, the company plans to deliver an updated resource estimate, complete metallurgical and geotechnical testwork, and commence a Scoping Study targeted for completion in 2027.
West Coast Silver says exploration will also advance the target pipeline across the 180km² Munni Munni land package toward drill testing in 2027.
Executive Director Bruce Garlick has given notice of his resignation effective 5 November 2026 and will support the transition as executive director – corporate during his notice period.
West Coast Silver is a mineral explorer focused on discovering and developing silver deposits.
Write to Paula Fabe at Mining.com.au
Images: West Coast Silver
