Estrella Resources has announced a substantial maiden JORC (2012) inferred limestone resource of 621 million tonnes at its Werumata project in Timor-Leste, highlighting multiple product streams and significant upside potential.
- 621Mt inferred limestone resource at Werumata
- Three distinct product types identified
- Resource covers only a fraction of concession
- Open cut mining and direct shipping ores
- Advancing sales and port access negotiations
Maiden JORC Resource Establishes Werumata as a Major Limestone Project
Estrella Resources (ASX:ESR) has declared a maiden JORC (2012) inferred limestone resource of 621 million tonnes at its Werumata Limestone Project in Timor-Leste, a significant milestone confirming the project’s potential scale. The resource, independently estimated by ASEAMCO Pty Ltd, is split into three product categories: 493Mt of high-grade limestone suitable for acid neutralisation, 33Mt of lower-grade limestone for industrial uses like AAC blocks and cement, and 95Mt of high-silica material apt for road paving and construction aggregate.
Located in the Lautém Municipality, approximately 170km east-northeast of Dili and accessible by sealed roads, the project concession spans around 4,990 hectares. However, the current drilling footprint covers only a small western portion of the site, leaving a vast 6km eastern extension largely untested, suggesting considerable resource growth potential.
Geology and Mining Approach Support Economic Viability
The Werumata deposit comprises two principal formations: the shallow marine Baucau Limestone Formation and the deeper marine Batu Putih Chalk, with seven resource horizons identified based on lithology and acid neutralisation capacity. The deposit’s sub-horizontal, tabular nature supports straightforward open cut mining as the only economically feasible extraction method. Notably, all three products are direct shipping ores, requiring only crushing and screening without further metallurgical processing.
Estrella’s Managing Director Chris Daws emphasised the resource as an “exceptional starting point” and highlighted ongoing efforts including advancing sales discussions and negotiating port access with the Timorese Government. The company plans further drilling to test the eastern extensions, aiming to substantially increase the resource base.
Market Opportunities and Strategic Positioning in Southeast Asia
Limestone from Werumata offers diverse end uses across industrial, agricultural, and construction sectors, including acid neutralisation for metallurgical applications, raw feed for cement, soil amendment, and road base materials. The proximity to Indonesia and broader Southeast Asia, regions undergoing significant infrastructure development, positions the project to tap into growing local and export markets.
This maiden resource declaration builds on Estrella’s recent exploration progress, following its 2025 drilling program that yielded strong assay results, as detailed in the company’s earlier strong assay results announcement. The resource classification remains Inferred, with further bulk density sampling required to upgrade confidence levels.
Next Steps: Commercialisation and Resource Expansion
Estrella is actively engaging with prospective customers to negotiate sales agreements and pursuing port land access with the Timorese Government to facilitate export logistics. Community consultations are underway to support upcoming drilling campaigns targeting very high-grade limestone zones. The company’s approach reflects a focus on scalable, low-processing-cost limestone products to meet industrial demand.
Meanwhile, Estrella continues to develop other regional assets, including its Ira Miri manganese project, which recently reported a 27,371 tonne manganese stockpile, underscoring the company’s diversified resource portfolio and exploration momentum.
Bottom Line?
Werumata’s maiden resource lays a solid foundation, but commercial progress hinges on sales contracts and port access agreements.
Questions in the middle?
- How will Estrella’s negotiations for port access in Timor-Leste progress amid regional infrastructure developments?
- What are the timelines and expected outcomes for the upcoming drilling campaign targeting resource expansion?
- How might the current Inferred classification impact financing and investor confidence ahead of resource upgrades?