Maritana wins final Black Swan permit and extends construction runway

Final approval removes Black Swan construction hurdle

Maritana Minerals Limited (ASX:MRT) has cleared the last statutory approval required to build the full process plant at its Black Swan Processing Hub, a 2.5-million-tonne-a-year facility about 50 kilometres north-east of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia. The Native Vegetation Clearing Permit was granted by LGIRS on 19 September, completing the approval set for earthworks and construction of the new section of the plant.

The permit follows approval of the Mining Development and Closure Proposal on 27 July and the Works Approval for the carbon-in-leach circuit on 5 August. Maritana says the completed approval process supports its preparation for first gold in the second half of calendar 2027, though that timing remains a forward-looking target rather than a completed project milestone.

Early works extended while EPC contract remains unfinished

GR Engineering Services (ASX:GNG) will now continue under the extended Early Works Agreement through 31 October 2027. The extension adds A$6.5 million to the A$25.0 million already committed, taking the disclosed early works commitment to A$31.5 million.

That spending is intended to keep detailed engineering, long-lead procurement, demolition, bulk earthworks and on-site construction moving while Maritana finalises the larger engineering, procurement and construction contract for the process plant. The announcement does not disclose the EPC contract value, an updated total project cost or the funding source for the additional commitment.

Long-lead equipment and Boorara restart remain key tests

Procurement is advancing for elution columns, carbon-in-leach bolted tanks, intertank screens and platework packages. Alongside the processing hub build, Maritana says mining at Boorara is targeted to restart in mid-2027, while a 60,000-metre resource conversion campaign continues across its Kalgoorlie project area.

The next material markers are therefore practical rather than merely regulatory: completion of the EPC contract, delivery of the long-lead equipment, construction progress and the funding required to carry the project through to commissioning. Until those pieces are settled, the final permit is a meaningful removal of one hurdle, not proof that the H2 2027 production target is secured.