Estrella Resources Commences Bulk Mining Operations at Timor-Leste Manganese Project
Estrella Resources has officially begun bulk sample mining operations at its Ira Miri manganese project in Timor-Leste, targeting up to 30,000 tonnes of high-grade manganese oxide ore. This development represents what could be the first substantial economic mineral extraction under the nation's contemporary mining regulations.
Agreement Paves Way for Historic Mining Activity
The recent flurry of activity follows the signing of a crucial agreement in early January with Timor-Leste's national mineral authority, Autoridade Nacional dos Minerais, I.P. (ANM). This framework grants Estrella the necessary approvals to mine bulk samples and prepare them for commercial sale, potentially unlocking the government's first taste of mining royalty revenue in modern times.
Under Timor-Leste's royalty system, manganese ore attracts an 8 per cent gross smelter return (GSR). This rate is somewhat higher than Western Australian manganese royalties, which typically range between 2.5 and 7.5 per cent depending on the nature of the processed ore.
Local Workforce and Equipment Drive Operations
The heavy lifting at the pit is being managed entirely by a local Timor-Leste contractor crew, equipped with a substantial fleet of earthmoving machinery. This fleet includes three excavators, a loader, a backhoe, a support digger, two bulldozers, and a dozen community-owned dump trucks fitted with mud chains to handle challenging wet-season conditions.
Estrella continues to lead the way in the virtually unexplored region of Timor-Leste and I am thrilled to see the diggers lining up at the high-grade and highly prospective Ira Miri Manganese project, said Estrella Resources managing director Chris Daws. Through this market sample, the Company will have the ability to sell and export up to 30,000 tonnes of ore.
Technical Details and Operational Strategy
Pre-stripping operations are being conducted across multiple mining benches simultaneously, accelerating progress through topsoil and limestone overburden toward the manganese horizon. First ore exposure is expected within days.
Excavation will focus on previously identified high-grade sweet spots, including areas where drilling intercepted:
- 8.05 metres at 53 per cent manganese
- 11.97 metres at 28.9 per cent manganese
The pit has been designed to a maximum depth of approximately 15 metres, with total excavation amounting to about 85,000 cubic metres. Topsoil is being carefully stripped and stockpiled for later rehabilitation, while other overburden is being benched outside the pit outline in accordance with environmental and regulatory requirements.
Logistics and Community Engagement
From pit to port, manganese will be transported 17 kilometres by truck to the old Lautem airstrip and barge landing site of a former fish-processing facility, where it will be loaded for transfer to offshore bulk carriers.
Community engagement remains central to the operation, with local contractors ensuring economic benefits stay within the region. The company maintains ongoing consultation with village leaders, the ANM, Murak Rai Timor E.P. (the state-owned national mining company established in 2023), and other stakeholders.
Next Steps and Strategic Importance
This bulk sample program represents a significant inflection point in Estrella's transition from explorer to hands-on producer. It will deliver the project's first market-ready material for appraisal, potential spot sales, and export trials while enabling real-world testing with international offtake partners seeking low-impurity manganese feedstock.
The company's next objectives include:
- Completing the concession transfer into the Estrella-Murak Rai Timor joint venture company
- Assaying freshly mined manganese to compile marketing-grade product specifications
- Ramping up buyer discussions for sales and export
This pivotal phase serves not only as a bulk sampling exercise but also as a proof-of-concept milestone that could convert Ira Miri's high-grade, low-impurity manganese into tangible tonnes and early cashflow. With Timor-Leste's mining framework being tested in real time and Estrella positioned as the front-runner, the project is building momentum toward potentially larger developments in the critical minerals sector.
With first ore extraction just days away, the manganese market may soon feel ripples from the Timor Sea region.
