REG - Ariana Resources PLC - Rig Mobilisation for Drilling Programme at Dokwe

Ariana ResourcesAnnouncement

Wed 07:00

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RNS Number : 3676D  Ariana Resources PLC  15 October 2025

15 October 2025

AIM: AAU

ASX: AA2

Rig Mobilisation for Drilling Programme at Dokwe

Ariana Resources plc (AIM: AAU, ASX: AA2, "Ariana" or the "Company"), the
mineral exploration, development and production company with gold project
interests in Africa and Europe, is pleased to announce a drilling programme
update for the 100% owned, 1.1Moz Dokwe Gold Project ("Dokwe" or "the
Project") in Zimbabwe.

Highlights:

o  First phase of a c.11,000m drilling programme to commence across Dokwe
North and Dokwe Central and their extensions, with the Reverse Circulation
("RC") rig mobilising from South Africa.

 

o  Appointment of Torque Africa, specialised in RC drilling services for the
initial phase.

 

o  Four initial targets to be tested, through a 26-hole programme, including
extensions to the Dokwe North and Central deposits, among others; site
preparations are completed.

 

o  Significant gold-in-soil anomaly identified to the NE of Dokwe North will
be drill-tested as a priority.

 

o  Follow-up will be undertaken on several historical intercepts identified
in the vicinity of Dokwe Central.

 

o  Drilling is expected to yield initial assay results before the year end.

Dr. Kerim Sener, Managing Director of Ariana Resources, commented:

"We are pleased to have appointed Torque Africa as drilling contractors for
the initiation of our exploration programme at Dokwe. We will be utilising an
RC drilling rig capable of drilling to depths in excess of 300m to test
several targets identified in our recent work programmes in the Dokwe North
and Central areas. In addition, the team have identified many other targets
across the Dokwe Project area which are expected to be drill-tested as part of
the current programme. Following the results of this initial phase of
drilling, we anticipate either extending the RC programme or commencing a
programme of diamond drilling as a prelude to JORC Resource upgrade, targeted
for 2026.

 

"The Company is excited to be starting this drilling programme following its
successful ASX listing and looks forward to continuing to update the market as
the programme progresses."

Drilling Programme Update

Ariana has engaged Torque Africa Group (https://torque-africa.co.za/) to
undertake an RC drilling programme at its 100% owned Dokwe Gold Project. Four
high-priority exploration targets have been prioritised, including extensions
to the Dokwe North and Dokwe Central deposits, which host combined Resources
of 1.1Moz @ 1.52g/t Au at a cut-off grade of 0.6g/t (Table 1).

 

An initial 26-hole programme has been planned as the first c.4,000m phase of a
c.11,000m drilling programme. This initial programme follows an extensive and
comprehensive review of soil, drill hole, and geophysics datasets, which have
resulted in improved geological models for the deposits and across the wider
project area. Further details on the target areas and the programme will
follow in the coming days.

 

Torque's Thor 5000 drilling rig has the proven capability to achieve the
depths and angles required to test the targets identified, and Ariana has
already cleared site access roads and drill pads in readiness to commence the
programme imminently.

 

Dokwe Mineral Resource Estimate

 

Table 1: In-pit Mineral Resource Estimate for the Dokwe Gold Project.

 

 PROJECT        CLASSIFICATION                        TONNAGE     GRADE      CONTAINED GOLD (oz)

(t)
(g/t Au)
                (REPORTING CUT-OFF GRADE 0.3g/t Au)
 Dokwe North    Measured                              17,309,000  1.06       592,000
                Indicated                             18,562,000  0.90       537,000
                Inferred                              7,095,000   0.82       187,000
                Total                                 42,966,000  0.95       1,316,000
 Dokwe Central  Indicated                             1,811,000   1.60       93,000
                Inferred                              120,000     1.69       7,000
                Total                                 1,931,000   1.61       100,000
 Total          Measured                              17,309,000  1.06       592,000
                Indicated                             20,373,000  0.96       631,000
                Inferred                              7,214,000   0.83       193,000
 TOTAL                                                44,896,000  0.98       1,416,000

 

 

 PROJECT        CLASSIFICATION                        TONNAGE     GRADE      CONTAINED GOLD (oz)

(t)
(g/t Au)
                (REPORTING CUT-OFF GRADE 0.6g/t Au)
 Dokwe North    Measured                              10,220,000  1.50       493,000
                Indicated                             8,260,000   1.50       399,000
                Inferred                              3,123,000   1.33       134,000
                Total                                 21,604,000  1.48       1,025,000
 Dokwe Central  Indicated                             1,207,000   2.19       85,000
                Inferred                              98,000      1.98       6,000
                Total                                 1,306,000   2.18       91,000
 Total          Measured                              10,220,000  1.50       493,000
                Indicated                             9,468,000   1.59       484,000
                Inferred                              3,222,000   1.35       140,000
 TOTAL                                                22,909,000  1.52       1,116,000

 

Notes:

1.   The Dokwe Mineral Resource Estimate is reported in accordance with the
JORC Code. Reported using cut-offs grades of 0.3g/t Au and 0.6g/t Au As at 4
March 2025.

2.   Refer to sections 4.8.5 and 4.8.6 of the IGR for further information
regarding the Dokwe Mineral Resource Estimate including information required
by ASX Listing Rule 5.8.

3.   The Dokwe Mineral Resource Estimate is inclusive of Reserves.

 

 

Compliance Statements

The information in this announcement relating to Mineral Resources and Ore
Reserves has been reported by the Company in accordance with the 2012 Edition
of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration results, Mineral
Resources and Ore Reserves' (JORC Code) previously (refer to the Company's
replacement prospectus, which was released to the ASX market platform on 8
September 2025 (Prospectus) and is available on the Company website
(https://www.arianaresources.com/) (Previous Market Announcement). The Company
confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially
affects the information included in the Previous Market Announcement and, in
the case of estimates of Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves, that all material
assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the
Previous Market Announcement continue to apply and have not materially
changed.

The information in this announcement that relates to the Dokwe PFS production
target, or the forecast financial information derived from that production
target was first reported on the ASX in the Previous Market Announcement. The
Company confirms that all the material assumptions underpinning the production
target, and the forecast financial information derived from the production
target, in the Previous Market Announcement continue to apply and have not
materially changed.

Competent Persons Statement

The information in the Investment Overview Section of the prospectus (included
at Section 3), the Company and Projects Overview (included at Section 5), and
the Independent Geologist's Report (included at Annexure A of the prospectus),
which relate to exploration targets, exploration results, mineral resources,
Ore Reserves and forward looking financial information is based on, and fairly
represents, information and supporting documentation prepared by Alfred
Gillman, Ruth Woodcock, Izak van Coller, Hovhannes Hovhannisyan (together, the
JORC Competent People), and Richard John Siddle, Andrew Bamber and Daniel Van
Heerdan (together, the Qualified People). Refer to the Independent Geologist's
Report for further information in relation to the information compiled by each
of the JORC Competent People and the Qualified People, their professional
memberships, their relevant qualifications and experience and their
relationship with the Company.

The Company confirms that the form and context in which the Competent Persons'
findings are presented have not been materially modified from the Previous
Market Announcement.

Forward-looking statements and disclaimer

This announcement contains certain "forward-looking statements".
Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward
looking words such as "forecast", "likely", "believe", "future", "project",
"opinion", "guidance", "should", "could", "target", "propose", "to be",
"foresee", "aim", "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "plan", "estimate",
"anticipate", "continue", "indicative" and "guidance", and other similar words
and expressions, which may include, without limitation, statements regarding
plans, strategies and objectives of management, anticipated production dates,
expected costs or production outputs for the Company, based on (among other
things) its estimates of future production of the Projects.

To the extent that this document contains forward-looking information
(including forward-looking statements, opinions or estimates), the
forward-looking information is subject to a number of risk factors, including
those generally associated with the gold exploration, mining and production
businesses. Any such forward-looking statement also inherently involves known
and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual
results, performance and achievements to be materially greater or less than
estimated. These factors may include, but are not limited to, changes in
commodity prices, foreign exchange fluctuations, general economic and share
market conditions, increased costs and demand for production inputs, the
speculative nature of exploration and project development (including the risks
of obtaining necessary licenses and permits and diminishing quantities or
grades of reserves), changes to the regulatory framework within which the
Company operates or may in the future operate, environmental conditions
including extreme weather conditions, geological and geotechnical events, and
environmental issues, and the recruitment and retention of key personnel.

The Board of Ariana has approved this announcement and authorised its release.

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to
constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations
(EU) No. 596/2014 as it forms part of UK Domestic Law by virtue of the
European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 ("UK MAR").

Contacts:

 

 Ariana Resources plc                           Tel: +44 (0) 20 3476 2080

 Michael de Villiers, Chairman

 Dr. Kerim Sener, Managing Director

 Beaumont Cornish Limited                       Tel: +44 (0) 20 7628 3396

 (Nominated Adviser)

 Roland Cornish / Felicity Geidt

 Zeus Capital (Joint Broker)                    Tel: +44 (0) 203 829 5000

 Harry Ansell / Katy Mitchell

 Fortified Securities (Joint Broker)            Tel: +44 (0) 203 411 7773

 Guy Wheatley

 Yellow Jersey PR Limited (Financial PR)        Tel: +44 (0) 7983 521 488

 Dom Barretto / Shivantha Thambirajah /         arianaresources@yellowjerseypr.com

 Bessie Elliot

 Shaw and Partners Limited                      Tel: +61 (0)2 9238 1268

 (Lead Manager - ASX)

 Damien Gullone

Beaumont Cornish Limited ("Beaumont Cornish") is the Company's Nominated
Adviser and is authorised and regulated by the FCA. Beaumont Cornish's
responsibilities as the Company's Nominated Adviser, including a
responsibility to advise and guide the Company on its responsibilities under
the AIM Rules for Companies and AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers, are owed
solely to the London Stock Exchange. Beaumont Cornish is not acting for and
will not be responsible to any other persons for providing protections
afforded to customers of Beaumont Cornish nor for advising them in relation to
the proposed arrangements described in this announcement or any matter
referred to in it.

 

About Ariana Resources plc:

Ariana is a mineral exploration, development and production company dual
listed on AIM (AIM: AAU) and ASX (ASX: AA2), with an exceptional track
record of creating value for its shareholders through its interests in active
mining projects and investments in exploration companies. Its current
interests include a major gold development project in Zimbabwe, gold-silver
production in Türkiye and copper-gold-silver exploration and development
projects in Kosovo and Cyprus.

For further information on the vested interests Ariana has, please visit the
Company's website at www.arianaresources.com (http://www.arianaresources.com)
.

Zeus Capital Limited, Fortified Securities and Shaw and Partners Limited are
the brokers to the Company and Beaumont Cornish Limited is the Company's
Nominated Adviser.

Ends.

 

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