Catalyst Metals’ Trident gold project in Western Australia is a step closer to commencement after the open pit mining proposal for the project received the nod from the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS).
Trident is an undeveloped gold deposit located 30km north-east of Catalyst’s Plutonic processing plant, holding resources of 524,000 ounces (oz) at 3.6 grams per tonne (g/t) and reserves of 188,000oz at 4.4g/t gold.
With first ore expected to be produced in the second half of 2025, Trident is the largest of the three new gold mines being developed under Catalyst’s 12–18-month growth plan.
Now with the underground and open pit mining proposals permitted by DEMIRS, Catalyst has secured all necessary environmental approvals to commence mining at Trident.
“Trident has been inching closer to development for some time. This milestone makes it more real,” Catalyst managing director and chief executive officer James Champion de Crespigny said.
“We now have all the mining approvals in place to allow Catalyst to bring online the mines necessary to double production at the Plutonic gold belt.”
Catalyst has also completed grade control drilling at Trident’s open pit, following the mobilisation of a grade control rig in January.
Trident has an initial five-year mine plan, producing an average of 37,000oz of gold per annum, with an average expected annual cashflow of $53 million.
The company is expected to issue the open pit mining contract for Trident in the next few weeks, positioning Catalyst to commence gold production in line with guidance.
Catalyst expects to produce 140,000–165,000oz from Trident, K2, Plutonic, Plutonic East and Henty during the 2025–26 financial year.
