Production Soars, Pani Gold Mine Enters Major Development Phase
Gold production at the Pani Gold Mine in Pohuwato Regency, Gorontalo, has shown a significant increase as the heap leach operation continues to ramp up capacity. This performance provides the foundation for PT Merdeka Gold Resources Tbk (EMAS) to proceed with the development of a Carbon-in-Leach (CIL) processing facility with a capacity of 12 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa), projected to become one of the main drivers of the company’s production growth.
The subsidiary of PT Merdeka Copper Gold Tbk (MDKA) recorded production of 15,594 ounces of gold in the second quarter of 2026. This figure represents an increase of more than eightfold compared with first-quarter production of 1,818 ounces. The rise in output is in line with the ongoing ramp-up of heap leach operations since the Pani Gold Mine produced its first gold on 14 February 2026.
President Director of PT Merdeka Gold Resources Tbk Boyke P Abidin said the heap leach facility is being developed in stages to increase ore processing capacity at the Pani Gold Mine. To date, Cell 1 and Cell 2 have been completed. The capacity of the facility will continue to be increased through embankment raising works targeted to run until the end of 2026. Development will then continue in 2027, including construction of Cell 3, which has already commenced. Once all development stages are complete, the Pani heap leach facility is targeted to accommodate approximately 62 million tonnes of ore.
In addition to increasing heap leach capacity, EMAS is also constructing a CIL processing facility with an initial capacity of 12 Mtpa. The facility is designed to complement the heap leach operation while enhancing the company’s ability to recover gold from processed ore. The presence of the CIL facility is expected to increase gold recovery rates from around 80 per cent to more than 90 per cent. The processing capacity of the facility is also designed to be expanded in stages to reach 24 million tonnes per annum.
Development of the 12 Mtpa CIL facility is currently proceeding according to the company’s plan. Land preparation continues, with first concrete pouring works targeted to begin in early fourth quarter 2026.
A number of supporting infrastructure projects are also being developed simultaneously to support the capacity increase at the Pani Gold Mine. These include tailings facilities to accommodate processing residue and additional electricity supply developed through cooperation with PT PLN (Persero). The infrastructure development forms an important part of preparations for scaling up Pani operations as processing facility capacity grows.
Boyke said EMAS is now at an important stage in the development of the Pani Gold Mine, marked by increased heap leach production and construction of the CIL facility. “EMAS is now entering an important growth phase, supported by increased heap leach production and construction of the 12 Mtpa CIL facility. The development of these two facilities will be the main driver of increased production capacity at the Pani Gold Mine,” Boyke said.
According to him, the construction of main facilities and supporting infrastructure proceeding according to plan forms the foundation for developing Pani as a large-scale gold mine with a long operational life. With heap leach production continuing to increase and construction of the CIL facility entering an important stage, EMAS is targeting the Pani Gold Mine to continue increasing its production capacity while becoming one of the pillars of the company’s long-term business growth.