Merdeka’s Pani Gold Project ahead of schedule, eyes 80,000 oz in 2026
Monday, October 13 2025 - 08:54 AM WIB
By Rikordias Dominius
IDX-listed mining firm PT Merdeka Copper Gold Tbk (IDX: MDKA) said development of its Pani Gold Project in Pohuwato Regency, Gorontalo Province, is progressing ahead of schedule, with first production targeted for early 2026.
“In Gorontalo, the project is on track — even slightly ahead of schedule. We initially planned to begin mining in mid-October 2025, but operations actually started on October 1,” said Tom Malik, Head of Corporate Communications at Merdeka, in an interview with Petromindo.com on the sidelines of the Indonesia International Sustainability Forum 2025 in Jakarta on Friday.
Tom said the Pani Gold Project uses the heap leach method for gold ore processing. Mining activities have commenced, and the company is currently stockpiling ore ahead of the crushing stage, which is expected to begin in mid-October.
“After mining, the ore will be crushed and stacked in the heap leach area, then irrigated with reagents. The process takes several weeks before we begin gold recovery,” he explained.
Read also : Merdeka Gold launches first mining ops at Pani Gold Mine
The first production of bullion dore is targeted for early 2026, around January or February, with initial output estimated at about 80,000 ounces of gold. This represents partial operations ahead of full-scale production.
“Next year we won’t be operating at full capacity yet. The initial production of around 80,000 ounces will come from high-grade ore in the early phase,” Tom noted.
Merdeka plans to gradually expand processing capacity by upgrading its heap leach facility into a carbon-in-leach (CIL) system. Once fully operational, the CIL plant is projected to support maximum production of up to 500,000 ounces of gold per year by around 2032.
The Pani Gold Mine, operated by Merdeka’s subsidiary PT Merdeka Gold Resources Tbk (IDX: EMAS), began first mining on October 1, 2025, involving overburden stripping and initial ore extraction. The project, located in Hulawa Village, Pohuwato, holds estimated resources exceeding 7 million ounces of gold with a multi-decade mine life.
Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak