Name of the Project
Murchison gold project.

Location
Murchison region, Western Australia.

Project Owner/s
Australian Resources company Meeka Metals.

Project Description
The December 2024 feasibility study is based on recommissioning and expanding the existing carbon-in-leach processing facility and support infrastructure, development of two openpit mining centres and two underground mines to produce 544 000 oz over an initial ten-year production plan.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
In the base case, the project has a pretax net present value, at an 8% discount rate, of A$418-million and an internal rate of return of 122%, at a gold price of A$3 500/oz.

Capital Expenditure
Preproduction capital is estimated at A$46-million.

Planned Start/End Date
Mining is expected to start in 2025.

Latest Developments
The project is fully approved, paving the way for development to start.

Meeka Metals has now started construction of the haul road between the processing plant and the openpit mining area, allowing for mining to start early in 2025.

Work on the accommodation village and office infrastructure is also continuing and will accelerate with all approvals in place. The camp is set to be commissioned in December.

Meeka plans to start openpit mining in March 2025, as well as reassess and establish services to the high-grade Andy Well underground mine.

According to the company’s timeline, the process plant will be commissioned by midyear.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
RSC and Mining Plus (mineral resource estimate); Peter O’Bryan and Associates, MineGeoTech, Mining One (geotechnical studies – openpit); Peter O’Bryan and Associates, MineGeoTech, and AMC Consultants (geotechnical studies – underground); Oreology (mine design and scheduling – openpit); Rockwater, RPS Aquaterra and CDM Smith (hydrology and hydrogeology); UON, NPE, and MTP Pumps (mine dewatering); GRES, Promin Engineering, and ALS Metallurgy (metallurgy and comminution); GRES, JTMET, and Promin Engineering (process plant design, operating and capital cost estimate); Minestruct, TJ Peach & Associates, and Ecowaterwa (nonprocess infrastructure); Austwide Tenement Management (mineral tenure); Mattiske Consulting, Bamford Consulting Ecologists, Bennelongia Environmental Consultants, Stantec, SoilWater, Atheos Consulting, and Pendragon (environmental studies); and Enviro Mining Support Stantec Atheos Consulting (permitting approvals).

Contact Details for Project Information
Meeka Metals, tel +61 8 6388 2700 or email info@meekagold.com.au.