Tavşan Mine’s Production Ramp-Up: What Risks Lie Ahead for Ariana?
Ariana Resources has successfully completed its first gold-silver doré pour at the Tavşan Mine in Türkiye, signaling the start of heap-leach production and a ramp-up toward steady-state output by mid-2026.
- First doré pour of 13.4kg gold-silver completed at Tavşan Mine
- Heap-leach pad loaded with ~30,000 tonnes; 800,000 tonnes stockpiled
- 1.3 million tonnes mined with ongoing high-grade processing at Kiziltepe CIL plant
- Production expected to reach steady-state by Q2 2026
- Tavşan holds JORC resource of 311,000 oz gold and 1.1 million oz silver
A Milestone in Türkiye
Ariana Resources plc has announced a significant operational milestone with the successful first gold-silver doré pour at its Tavşan Mine, located in western Türkiye. This event marks the transition from development to production phase for the heap-leach operation, which is a key part of Ariana’s portfolio alongside its flagship Dokwe Gold Project in Zimbabwe.
The initial doré bar weighed 13.4 kilograms, combining gold and silver extracted from ore processed on-site. The heap-leach pad currently holds approximately 30,000 tonnes of ore, with a substantial stockpile of around 800,000 tonnes prepared for future processing. This stockpiling strategy positions Tavşan for a smooth ramp-up in production over the coming months.
Resource and Production Context
To date, Tavşan has yielded 1.3 million tonnes of ore at an average grade of 1.38 grams per tonne gold and 5.77 grams per tonne silver. High-grade ore continues to be processed at the nearby Kiziltepe CIL plant, which enhances recovery rates for precious metals. Since mining began in early 2024, the combined operations have produced 24,400 ounces of gold and 83,770 ounces of silver via the Kiziltepe facility.
The Tavşan Mine boasts a JORC-compliant resource estimate of 311,000 ounces of gold and 1.1 million ounces of silver, underpinning an expected mine life of eight years. Ore reserves stand at approximately 200,900 ounces of gold and 667,300 ounces of silver, reflecting a robust foundation for sustained production.
Strategic Outlook and Operational Synergies
Dr. Kerim Sener, Managing Director of Ariana, emphasized the strategic importance of Tavşan as Zenit Mining Operations shifts its production focus from Kiziltepe to Tavşan. The dual processing approach, heap-leaching lower-grade ore on-site while trucking higher-grade ore to Kiziltepe, allows for optimized metal recovery and operational flexibility.
With commercial heap-leach operations now underway, Ariana expects production to ramp up steadily, reaching a steady-state by the second quarter of 2026. Tavşan is poised to become the primary gold-producing asset in Türkiye for Ariana and a meaningful contributor to the company’s cash flow.
Looking Ahead
As Ariana balances its development ambitions in Zimbabwe with operational growth in Türkiye, Tavşan’s progress offers a tangible demonstration of the company’s ability to advance projects from exploration through to production. The next phases will be critical to watch, particularly how production scales and how efficiently the heap-leach operation integrates with existing processing infrastructure.
Bottom Line?
Tavşan’s first doré pour is just the beginning; steady production and cash flow growth will be the real test in 2026.
Questions in the middle?
- How quickly can Tavşan ramp up to full steady-state production?
- What impact will Tavşan’s output have on Ariana’s overall financial performance?
- Are there further resource expansions or operational efficiencies anticipated at Tavşan?
