Greatland Gold PLC, the precious and base metals exploration and development company, has announced commencement of the underground decline at the Havieron Gold-Copper Project which is a JV with Newcrest (Newcrest 60% Greatland Gold 40%).

Shaun Day, Chief Executive Officer of Greatland Gold plc, commented: “This is a momentous step in the development of Havieron as a world-class gold-copper mine. I am delighted by progress on site and this fast-tracked milestone is indicative of the potential scale of the deposit and the opportunity seen by our partners Newcrest.”

He adds: “By providing access to the top of the orebody, the decline sets Havieron on course to become a large, multi-commodity, bulk tonnage, underground mining operation. Alongside the ongoing growth drilling, the next key milestone will see the completion of a pre-feasibility study and we are on track to deliver this in the second half of 2021.” The commencement of the decline by Newcrest Mining, as Manager of the Joint Venture, follows receipt of the necessary regulatory approvals to commence these construction activities.

The world class Havieron gold-copper deposit is in the Paterson region of Western Australia approximately 45 km east of Newcrest’s Telfer gold mine, processing plant and existing infrastructure. As well as commencement of the decline to develop the Havieron orebody, a substantial ongoing growth drilling programme is presently underway at Havieron which is being undertaken in conjunction with the preparation of the PFS which is expected to be released in late calendar 2021. The Joint Venture Agreement includes tolling principles reflecting the intention of the parties that, subject to positive decision to mine, the resulting joint venture mineralised material will be processed at Telfer.