Newcrest takes the next step at Wilki

23rd May 2022 By: Esmarie Iannucci - Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor: Australasia

PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Gold miner Newcrest Mining will assume management of a farm-in agreement with ASX-listed Antipa Minerals over the Wilki project, in Western Australia.

Newcrest has already spent A$6-million on exploration at the project under a farm-in agreement with Antipa, and will now spend a further A$10-million by March 2025 to earn a 51% interest in the joint venture (JV).

Newcrest could spend a further A$44-million by March 2028 to earn a 75% interest in the JV.

“Newcrest’s decision to assume operatorship of our Wilki farm-in project from July is perfect timing. With our other major partners, Rio Tinto and Independence Group, already operating our Citadel JV and Paterson farm-in projects, respectively, this allows Antipa to dedicate its focus to the rapid advancement of our 100%-owned Minyari Dome project,” said MD Roger Mason.

“The recent substantial resource upgrade at Minyari, to 1.8-million ounces of gold, readily demonstrates why we are now targeting a standalone mining and processing operation at Minyari via the usual evaluation studies. Running in parallel, our major partners will be funding significant greenfield discovery exploration programmes on 5 000 km2 of world-class Paterson Province ground. Antipa enjoys the best of both worlds in this respect, with exciting times ahead.”