Nova Minerals on target to commence Estelle antimony plant construction

• Additional key antimony plant equipment delivered
• Delivery included two ball mills, a jaw crusher, apron feeder and hydraulic filter presses
• Antimony plant construction set to commence imminently
• Extensive diamond drilling program at Estelle completed

Nova Minerals Corp (ASX: NVA) is preparing to commence construction with all key plant equipment now on site for its antimony processing and refinery operation at Port MacKenzie, Alaska.

CEO, Christopher Gerteisen, said the arrival of the final major pieces of equipment enables construction of the processing and refinery facility to begin in the coming weeks, subject to receipt of the remaining permits.

He said this represents another significant milestone in the company’s plan to establish a secure, vertically integrated US domestic antimony supply chain in Alaska, supported by a US$43.4 million award from the US Department of War (DoW).

The key equipment shipment arrives as the 2026 field season at the Estelle critical minerals and gold project draws to a close, with initial assay results expected in due course.

In parallel, construction continues to advance across key infrastructure projects at Estelle, including the Korbel Stibium access road and airstrip expansion.

“This equipment delivery brings Nova Minerals a step closer to establishing a secure, vertically integrated antimony supply chain for the United States domestic market,” Mr Gerteisen said.

“The US Department of War has designated antimony as a strategic priority for national and economic security, due to its necessity in defense, energy storage, and advanced electronic applications.

“While our 2026 field season, supported by three diamond rigs operating from June through September, has now concluded, activity at both Estelle and Port MacKenzie is continuing at pace. Favourable fall conditions provide an ideal window for earthworks and construction, with these activities set to continue through the winter months.”

The remaining shipment of key ore processing and refining equipment included another 10 truckloads and follows more than 40 containers that arrived by barge at Port MacKenzie on September 6.

Nova sourced modern processing and milling equipment from a recently decommissioned site in North America to accelerate construction and deliver meaningful cost savings, with first antimony expected in 2027.

Early earthworks are underway, with construction of the antimony processing facility, which is designed to process stibnite-bearing material and, initially, produce antimony metal and military grade trisulphide as part of the US DoW project, to commence following receipt of final permits.

Mr Gerteisen said a modular design provides Nova with the flexibility to scale operations over time and respond to evolving market requirements including building an integrated domestic antimony supply chain within the United States.

NVA is steady at 60.5¢ with a Mkt cap of $22.91M prior to markets opening.

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