MACA will shortly commence mining of 180,000t of ore and associated waste from the Wolverine and Gambit West pits. Waste material will be used to construct the tailings storage facility and other surface infrastructure. MACA will also prepare the pilot plant site, construct road access and construct the airstrip for the project.

Mining will be undertaken in a single campaign, with all ore stockpiled ahead of the three-year pilot plant phase.

George Bauk, Northern Minerals’ managing director and CEO, said: “The Browns Range site is now a hive of activity with the arrival of mining, admin and other site personnel.

“With mining for the pilot plant project to be completed as a six-month campaign, we expect that the site will be significantly transformed over the short term as we prepare for the arrival of the processing plant that Sinosteel MECC is currently constructing in China.”