Nova Minerals Corp has commenced geotechnical drilling on the West Susitna Access Road after the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority board authorized up to US$25 million in additional funding to advance predevelopment work for the infrastructure corridor in Alaska.

The proposed 78.5-mile, year-round road will provide a critical transportation link connecting Nova Minerals Corp’s Estelle Gold and Critical Minerals Project and its planned Port MacKenzie antimony refinery to the existing regional road network.

Field investigations have been completed at three material sites, with work at a fourth site nearing completion. Substantial progress has also been recorded at proposed bridge crossings, where drilling at four primary pier locations for the Susitna River Bridge has been completed using barge-supported equipment. Remaining in-river pier investigations are scheduled for the May 15 through July 15, 2027, in-water work window.

“This is the work that turns a route on a map into a road that can actually be built,” said AIDEA Deputy Executive Director Brandon Brefczynski. “The Board’s unanimous action keeps the project on schedule for the upcoming field seasons and moves us another step closer to unlocking one of the most promising resource corridors in the state.”

— Brandon Brefczynski, AIDEA Deputy Executive Director

The Estelle project hosts two defined multi-million-ounce gold resources and over 20 prospects distributed along a 35-kilometre mineralised trend within Alaska's Tintina Gold Belt. In parallel with infrastructure development, Phase 1 of Nova Minerals' planned antimony trisulfide production is funded by a US$43.4 million U.S. Department of War Defense Production Act Title III award, with pilot-scale antimony production scheduled for late 2026 to early 2027.

“Nova Minerals welcomes the AIDEA board's unanimous funding approval, authorizing an additional US$25 million to advance the development of the West Susitna Access Road. This marks another important milestone for Nova Minerals' Estelle Gold and Critical Minerals Project.”

“This vital piece of infrastructure will increase accessibility to the site, providing safe and reliable road access throughout the year, supporting our efforts to establish a fully secure, vertically integrated antimony supply chain.”

— Christopher Gerteisen, CEO and Executive Director

The infrastructure upgrades and ongoing field programs continue to advance Nova Minerals' broader dual-commodity strategy in Alaska's tier-one mining jurisdiction as regional development accelerates.

Read the full announcement: West Susitna Road- Geotech Drilling Underway, US$25M Funding