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Murray Ward
Emerging gold producer Forrestania Resources has hit a series of critical milestones at its Edna May operation in Western Australia, putting the company on a fast track to restart gold production in mid-December. As a tangible sign of production readiness, the company has confirmed first ore from its Johnson Range mine has been delivered to the Edna May run-of-mine pad.
The company says its project execution risk has been materially reduced, with a new mill liner shipment underway for a late-November arrival and the first cell of its tailings storage facility nearing completion. Western Australia has a tightly regulated tailings framework, where new cells, lifts and substantial facility changes are subject to formal approvals, monitoring and risk controls.
While all eyes are on the imminent Edna May restart, Forrestania is also pushing ahead with its second strategic processing hub at Lake Johnston, slated for commissioning and production in early 2027. The company says key refurbishment and procurement activities are progressing well at the site, highlighted by the hot commissioning of the gold elution circuit, which is now underway. Other major components, including the motor control centre assembly and a locally bought conveyor, are in transit, while concrete works and screen tower refurbishment are also ticking along.
Forrestaniaโs restart timetable is emerging against a strong Australian gold backdrop with spot prices consolidating around A$6000 per ounce. That environment is supporting investment in restarts, mill upgrades and new production, with national gold output forecast to grow from 293 tonnes in FY2026 to 369 tonnes in FY2027, a massive increase of 26 per cent, according to forecasts cited by the Minerals Council of Australia.
โForrestania seeks to take advantage of Edna Mayโs production-ready status and to progress Lake Johnson into production in early 2027.โ
Forrestania Resources executive chairman David Geraghty
The companyโs progress is showcased by a hive of activity on the ground. Management has confirmed mining contractor equipment has been mobilised to its Tycho and Johnson Range mines, which will provide the initial ore feed for the Edna May mill. Site clearing is also underway at Johnson Range, while final critical-path maintenance and refurbishment work is progressing at the Edna May plant itself ahead of the restart.
Forrestania Resources executive chairman David Geraghty said: โOver recent weeks Forrestania has achieved several critical milestones that have significantly improved the outlook for a near-term restart of operations at Edna May. The tailings lift and mill liner delivery schedules have both advanced materially, reducing project execution risk and creating a credible pathway to first gold production before the end of 2026.โ
The restart of Edna May will mark a major milestone in Forrestaniaโs strategy to build a leading Western Australian gold business through a classic hub-and-spoke model. The company has been busily assembling a significant inventory of ore sources to feed its two processing hubs, building a global mineral resource inventory that now tops two million ounces.
That tally includes the recently acquired Tampia project, where a 223,300-ounce resource has already been defined. In a neat piece of operational history, Tampaโs previous owner, Ramelius Resources, previously trucked ore from the deposit to the very same Edna May plant Forrestania now owns.
The companyโs portfolio also includes a 285,700-ounce resource at its Lady Ada and Lady Magdalene deposits, which have a history of high-grade, nuggety gold and the 212,400-ounce British Hill deposit, from which ore has already been stockpiled at the Lake Johnston plant ahead of its restart.
With first ore on the ground at Edna May and critical components in transit for Lake Johnston, Forrestania is lighting up both ends of its ambitious two-hub strategy. As the final pieces fall into place for a pre-Christmas restart at its first production hub, Forrestaniaโs second is also making rapid progress towards a 2027 start-up.
The companyโs two-hub gold production ambitions appear to be fast becoming reality, setting the stage for a potentially transformational 2027 as the company looks to establish itself as a serious new force in WAโs gold sector.
Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au
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