GR Engineering Starts Early Works on Maritana’s 2.5Mtpa Gold Processing Hub
Early Works commence at Black Swan Processing Hub
Maritana Minerals has launched Early Works at its 100%-owned Black Swan Processing Hub, located approximately 50km northeast of Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. GR Engineering Services (ASX: GNG) has been engaged to deliver the Early Works program covering earthworks, demolition, detailed engineering and long-lead equipment procurement. The company has committed approximately $25 million to the Early Works phase, targeting first gold production in H2 CY2027.
The move marks the transition from design to delivery for a standalone gold processing operation in the heart of Western Australia’s goldfields.
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What are Early Works in mining projects?
Early Works is a defined pre-construction phase that sits between feasibility studies and full EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) execution. The purpose is to de-risk project costs and schedule by advancing detailed engineering, ordering long-lead equipment, and preparing the site before committing to the main construction contract.
Successful Early Works completion typically positions a project for smoother transition into full construction and reduces the risk of delays or cost overruns.
For investors, Early Works commencement signals that a project has moved beyond planning into physical execution, a key milestone that separates development-stage companies from those actively building producing assets.
Project timeline and key milestones
The Early Works program will run for approximately 20 weeks, targeting completion by early Q4 CY2026. The project pathway targets the following milestones:
- Full construction commencement: Q3 CY2026
- Early Works completion: early Q4 CY2026 (prior to EPC contract commencement)
- First gold targeted: H2 CY2027
The EPC contract with GRES is being finalised, positioning the project for a seamless transition from Early Works into full construction ahead of a final investment decision once all Works Approvals are received.
The defined timeline provides investors with clear checkpoints to track execution progress.
Contractor engagement and project team
GRES will deliver the Early Works program, having already completed the Project’s FEED (Front End Engineering Design). All engineering, procurement, estimating and scheduling will be completed in-house by GRES, with key personnel carried through from the Pre-Feasibility and FEED phases.
Zeal Engineering has been engaged as Maritana’s “Owner’s Engineer” to oversee delivery of the Early Works program, reporting to Maritana Project Director Doug Flanagan. Zeal provides project development services to the mining industry with experience in Australia, Africa, Asia, North America and Eastern Europe.
Continuity of personnel from feasibility through to execution reduces knowledge loss and supports schedule adherence.
Processing plant conversion scope
The existing plant will be converted to a 2.5 Mtpa gold carbon-in-leach (CIL) operation. The conversion works include:
- Refurbishing the crushing and grinding circuit
- Converting the single-stage SAG mill circuit to a SABC (Semi-Autogenous Ball mill Crusher) configuration
- Recommissioning existing SAG and Ball mills using new motors and variable speed drives
- Adding new circuits for gravity separation, pre-leach thickening, leaching and adsorption, gold recovery and reagents
- New water treatment services, tailings thickener refurbishment, and new tailings/decant return lines
The FEED capacity of 2.5 Mtpa builds on prior studies indicating average production of 102,000 oz gold per annum over an initial 5-year Life of Mine (from the 2.2 Mtpa configuration).
Long-lead equipment procurement
Long-lead procurement is underway to maintain the project schedule. Mill motors and thickeners have already been ordered. Key items yet to be ordered include:
- Apron feeders, slurry and sump pumps, process pumps, agitators
- Cyclone cluster, regeneration kiln, elution heater, reverse osmosis plant
- Vibrating feeders and screens, flocculant plant, chillers, cranes and hoists
- Gravity recovery equipment (Knelson concentrators, InLine Leach Reactor, electrowinning cells)
- MV switchgear, PLC hardware, transformers, HV/MV cables
Securing long-lead items early reduces the risk of supply chain delays impacting the construction schedule.
SAG mill refurbishment update
GRES has completed analysis and non-destructive testing of the SAG mill shell and head welds. A small number of defects were identified.
Remediation options include repairs to be completed off-site or a new shell and heads to be fabricated, with the preferred method to be confirmed during Early Works. Removal of the SAG mill for refurbishment or replacement is being arranged and managed on site.
Addressing mill integrity issues during Early Works reduces commissioning risk and supports the production timeline.
Early Works financials and next steps
The committed expenditure of approximately $25 million for the Early Works phase covers GRES management and engineering plus procurement. This investment advances engineering and secures critical long-lead items in parallel, reducing cost and schedule risk ahead of the EPC phase.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Early Works Budget | $25 million |
| Early Works Duration | ~20 weeks |
| Processing Capacity | 2.5 Mtpa |
| Target First Gold | H2 CY2027 |
| Full Construction Start | Q3 CY2026 |
Maritana’s key activities as the project advances include:
- Complete engineering and design deliverables
- Finalise long-lead equipment procurement and award Civil Installation and CIL Tank Construction contracts
- Progress SAG mill refurbishment and commence bulk earthworks, demolition and greenfields concrete works
- Finalise EPC contract arrangements with GRES and advance toward final investment decision
- Continue advancing operational readiness for mining across initial ore sources
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Management commentary
Managing Director and CEO Grant Haywood
“The commencement of Early Works is a major step forward for the Black Swan Processing Hub and will see site-based activities begin shortly as we transition from design to delivery. GR Engineering Services will lead this phase while detailed engineering and the ordering of long-lead equipment is progressed in parallel. These steps de-risk costs and timing which keeps us on track for our objectives of advancing toward full construction in Q3 CY2026 and producing first gold from the Black Swan Processing Hub in H2 CY2027.”
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