Heap Leach Irrigation Commences, Pani Gold Mine Moves Toward First Gold Production
The development of the Pani Gold Mine in Pohuwato Regency, Gorontalo, has entered a critical phase toward the realization of its first gold production. On 27 January 2026, heap leach pad irrigation commenced at the site, marking one of the final stages in the initial production process, with first gold production targeted for the first quarter of 2026.
The Pani Gold Mine is a strategic project of PT Merdeka Gold Resources Tbk, a subsidiary of PT Merdeka Copper Gold Tbk. As part of the Merdeka Group, the development of the Pani Gold Mine draws on the Group’s experience in operating the Tujuh Bukit Gold Mine in Banyuwangi, East Java, which applies a similar processing method. This experience provides a strong foundation for technical planning, facility development, and the implementation of operational and sustainability standards at the Pani Gold Mine.
During the initial production stage, the Pani Gold Mine applies the heap leach method, whereby crushed gold ore is stacked on a heap leach pad and irrigated with a chemical solution to dissolve gold and silver from the ore. The resulting pregnant leach solution is then transferred to the ADR Plant (Adsorption, Desorption, and Recovery) for extraction and refining processes, producing gold and silver in the form of dore bullion. The Pani Gold Mine ADR facility has completed its commissioning phase and is ready to process pregnant leach solution.
President Director of PT Merdeka Gold Resources Tbk, Boyke Poerbaya Abidin, stated that the commencement of heap leach irrigation underscores the project’s readiness to achieve its first gold production target.
“This project is not only expected to drive long-term value for investors, but also to make a tangible contribution to regional development, particularly for communities in Pohuwato Regency, through increased local government revenue, job creation, and the development of local MSMEs,” said Boyke.
Alongside the operation of the heap leach facility, the Pani Gold Mine continues to advance the development of a downstream Carbon-in-Leach (CIL) processing facility as part of its medium- to long-term production capacity growth strategy. A Feasibility Study, targeted for completion in the first quarter of 2026, is currently being prepared based on a planned CIL processing capacity of 12 million tonnes per year, to be constructed and operated at full capacity from the outset. This approach replaces the previous plan, which envisaged starting operations at a capacity of 7.5 million tonnes before gradually ramping up to 12 million tonnes.
From a resource perspective, the Pani Gold Mine holds approximately 4.8 million ounces of gold Ore Reserves, derived from a Mineral Resource Estimate of more than 7 million ounces of gold. With this scale, the Pani Gold Mine is recognized as one of the largest primary gold deposits in Indonesia. Through the optimization of heap leach operations and the development of a large-scale CIL facility, the Pani Gold Mine has the potential to reach peak production exceeding 500,000 ounces of gold per year, positioning it as one of the largest gold mines in Indonesia and the Asia-Pacific region.
