Nova Minerals (NYSE American: NVA, ASX: NVA) has completed the engineering and design phase for its antimony pilot processing plant located in Alaska. The facility is designed to support the Estelle project and will eventually function as a processing hub for broader feedstock. The project is split between two primary sites: the Whiskey Bravo location handles initial ore crushing and sorting, while the Port MacKenzie facility manages refining and beneficiation. The plant utilizes a proprietary hydrometallurgical method engineered to produce antimony trisulfide meeting specific military-grade quality standards.

Management indicated that the project has transitioned into the execution stage following the completion of metallurgical testing and the design of the process flowsheet. The company secured major equipment packages from a recently decommissioned processing facility, which officials note helped reduce procurement timelines and improve capital efficiency. This infrastructure includes essential components such as ball mills, ore sorters, flotation cells, and screening equipment.

"We continue to make rapid progress on the antimony project and remain ahead of schedule, with another major milestone now completed. With this work complete, and procurement of key equipment now finalized, the project has entered the execution phase."

— Christopher Gerteisen, CEO

The company is preparing for significant activity in the near term as it moves toward operational status. Construction of the Port MacKenzie pilot processing facility is slated to begin within the current quarter. Logistics are already underway to support this physical build, with over 40 shipping containers holding critical plant components currently in transit to the site for expected delivery in the coming weeks.

The modular design of the pilot plant is intended to allow for future expansion, including the potential to add refining circuits for antimony trioxide and metal production. With ore extraction plans in development alongside the facility construction, Nova Minerals is working toward near-term production targets, with operations currently envisioned for late 2026 or early 2027. This development represents a strategic step for the company in its efforts to establish a fully integrated domestic antimony supply chain in the United States.

Read the full announcement: Antimony Pilot Plant Engineering and Design Completed