Ardea Resources has extended the completion timeline for the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) covering its Kalgoorlie Nickel Project Goongarrie Hub. The company said the revised schedule reflects ongoing discussions within the project consortium as partners review options to strengthen long-term value and economics.
Ardea previously targeted completion of the DFS final report by June 30. The company confirmed the study will require additional time while consortium partners assess several value engineering initiatives identified during recent project assessments.
The DFS remains fully funded under a consortium-approved budget of A$98.5 million. Ardea stated that approximately A$84.5 million has already been invested in engineering, technical analysis, and development work.
Kalgoorlie Nickel joint venture structure and partner involvement
The DFS is being managed through Kalgoorlie Nickel, an incorporated joint venture company responsible for advancing the project. Ardea holds a 65% interest in the venture, while GH Nickel holds 35%.
GH Nickel is backed by two Japanese industrial groups: Sumitomo Metal Mining and Mitsubishi Corporation. Ardea said the participation of these companies reflects the strategic importance of securing future supplies of nickel and cobalt for battery and electric vehicle markets.
Project partners are continuing to evaluate optimization opportunities intended to improve operational efficiency and reduce development risks. Ardea also said these reviews are aimed at enhancing future shareholder returns.
DFS scope, hub ownership, and project fundamentals
Ardea stated that extending the DFS timeline is intended to ensure the final study reflects a high standard of technical and economic analysis. The company said this approach prioritises long-term project quality over short-term scheduling targets.
The broader Kalgoorlie Nickel Project includes two major development hubs. The consortium has the right to earn up to a 50% interest in the Goongarrie Hub, described as a cornerstone development area.
The second hub, Kalpini Hub, remains 100% owned by Ardea Resources. Ardea said its strategic positioning, resource base, and long-term development outlook remain unchanged.
Strategic support and conditional financing eligibility
Ardea said the Kalgoorlie Nickel Project continues to receive support from international governments and financing agencies because of its role in critical mineral supply chains. The project is included within Australia–Japan critical minerals cooperation frameworks and Japan–United States critical minerals partnerships.
The project is also listed under Australia’s Major Project Status program and the Investor Front Door initiative. In addition, Ardea said it remains eligible for conditional financing support valued at approximately A$1 billion.
The conditional financing support is associated with Export Finance Australia and the Export-Import Bank of the United States (US EXIM). Ardea linked this eligibility to efforts to secure battery metal supply outside traditional supply chains.
Resource base at Goongarrie Hub and across Kalgoorlie Nickel
The scale of resources remains a key feature of the Kalgoorlie Nickel Project according to Ardea. At Goongarrie Hub, Ardea reported 584 million tonnes of mineral resources containing 4.0 million tonnes of contained nickel.
Across the broader Kalgoorlie Nickel Project area, Ardea reported total resources of 854 million tonnes. The reported grades are 0.71% nickel and 0.045% cobalt.
Ardea also reported contained metals across the broader project area of 6.1 million tonnes contained nickel and 386,000 tonnes contained cobalt. The company said these figures place the project among the largest undeveloped nickel and cobalt assets globally.
Separate scandium recovery scoping study alongside DFS
Alongside the DFS program, Ardea launched a separate company-funded scoping study on scandium recovery from waste-stream solutions generated during processing. The study examines extracting additional value from materials that would otherwise remain unused within production.
The scoping work sits outside the current DFS base case, which focuses on nickel and cobalt. Ardea said the scandium scoping study is expected to be completed by September.
The company stated that results could indicate opportunities to enhance project economics through additional by-product revenue streams. It also noted that scandium recovery is not included in the current DFS processing design.
Plant layout provisions for potential scandium refining circuit
Ardea said future expansion opportunities have been incorporated into project planning even though scandium recovery is not part of the DFS base case. The process plant layout includes space for a dedicated scandium refining circuit.
The company said this arrangement would allow future integration if economic studies support development. Ardea added that current DFS budgets and technical programs have not yet included metallurgical testing and engineering work required for commercial scandium production.
The groundwork for future expansion is described as already in place within planning activities.
Exploration activity across Eastern Goldfields targets
beyond the DFS program, Ardea continues exploration across the broader Kalgoorlie project area. Current work targets nickel sulphide discoveries, critical minerals opportunities, resource expansion potential, and new exploration targets within the Eastern Goldfields region.
The company said these programs are intended to strengthen the long-term growth profile of the project while supporting Australia’s role as a supplier of battery and energy-transition minerals. Ardea did not provide additional exploration milestones or results in its update on the DFS extension.
