Western Gold Resources (ASX:WGR) says it is now in a strong position to advance various deposits within its Gold Duke Project to production and is investigating treatment options, as it undertakes discussions with multiple nearby plants within an economic radius.
The company’s mining proposal and mine closure plan has been approved by the WA Department of Energy, Mines, Industry, Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS) for open pit mining operations at the Gold Duke Project.
This approval follows the submission made in March this year and marks a significant milestone in advancing the project.
Western Gold notes a recently completed Scoping Study has demonstrated the attractive value and potential cash generation of the Gold Duke Project over a broad range of gold prices.
The mine development has been optimised to minimise up-front capital costs, utilising operational cash flow to self-fund mining and generating open pit ore feed to nearby processing facilities.
The approved mine plan has been designed to minimise risks associated with ramp-up and deliver a profitable gold producer in Western Australia with significant upside to expand on the production profile and mine life.
The Gold Duke Project had existing mining approvals at the Eagle, Emu, and Golden Monarch deposits and has received approval for the Gold King deposit located 500m to the south of e Golden Monarch, which is expected to provide a mineral resource update over this deposit.
These four deposits contain 51% of the project’s resources.
Write to Adam Orlando at Mining.com.au
Images: Western Gold
