Western Gold Resources Ltd has altered its development pathway for the Gold Duke Project in Western Australia’s north-eastern Goldfields, abandoning its previous reliance on third-party toll milling after processing arrangements were deferred.

Previously, Western Gold Resources had executed a binding toll milling agreement to process Gold Duke ore at Wiluna Mining Corporation’s Wiluna Processing Plant located approximately 46 kilometres away. Following Wiluna Mining Corporation's decision to defer third-party tolling activities at the mill, Western Gold Resources has ceased reliance on that facility.

The company has moved immediately to begin formal engagement with alternative processing counterparties operating existing facilities within economic haulage distance. In parallel, Western Gold Resources is assessing options to establish a processing solution under its own control.

The processing change has also required the company to revise its development schedule. While Western Gold Resources holds the primary regulatory approvals required for Stage 1 mining, the Board has initiated an Expanded Scoping Study.

The revised study is evaluated using the company's updated Mineral Resource inventory of 4.84 million tonnes at 1.8 grams per tonne gold for 277,000 ounces of contained gold. This inventory followed 33,980 metres of reverse circulation grade control and infill drilling completed across Stage 1 deposits during 2025.

The Expanded Scoping Study aims to incorporate additional tonnes into an updated Production Target, increase recovered ounces, and extend mine life beyond the initial 14-month plan. The work will re-optimise pit designs and cut-off grades using prevailing Australian dollar gold prices above the A$4,500 to A$5,500 per ounce range applied previously.

Alongside the scoping work, Western Gold Resources is advancing a 12,000-metre reverse circulation grade control and infill drilling program targeting extensions to the Emu, Eagle, Joyners Find and Gold King South deposits.

“The deferral of third-party tolling at Wiluna has required us to reassess the processing pathway for Gold Duke. Importantly, the underlying Mineral Resource and the substantial work already completed to prepare the Project for Stage 1 mining remain in place.”

— Cullum Winn, Managing Director

The board is also considering potential corporate opportunities to maximize shareholder value while commercial discussions and technical studies continue.

Read the full announcement: Gold Duke Project - Strategic and Operational Update