REG - Ariana Resources PLC - Summary of Projects with Drilling Planned at Dokwe

Ariana ResourcesAnnouncement

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RNS Number : 3822Z  Ariana Resources PLC  16 September 2025

16 September 2025

AIM: AAU

ASX: AA2

 

SIGNIFICANT DRILLING PROGRAMME PLANNED TO COMMENCE

AT THE DOKWE GOLD PROJECT, ZIMBABWE

 

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, provides the following summary of its projects
and development plans, particularly at the Dokwe Gold Project ("Dokwe")
following its 10 September 2025 admission to the Official List of the
Australian Securities Exchange ("ASX") and the quotation of its securities.

 

 

Highlights:

o  Ariana commenced trading on the ASX on 10 September 2025, following the
completion of a A$11 million IPO, capitalising the Company at c.A$72.5
million.

 

o  Flagship >1Moz Dokwe Gold Project in Zimbabwe continues to be advanced
through its Definitive Feasibility Study ("DFS"), as additional technical
consultancy companies are appointed.

 

o  Drilling companies have submitted tenders to undertake a significant new
diamond and Reverse Circulation ("RC") drilling programme of c.11,000m at
Dokwe; with contracts due to be awarded imminently and drilling to commence in
early October.

 

o  The drilling programme is designed to substantially increase the current
1.4Moz Resource and 0.8Moz Reserve (as defined in the Pre-feasibility Study -
"PFS") at Dokwe, while also providing additional technical data for the DFS.

 

o  Gold-silver production continues from the Turkish operations (held 23.5%
by Ariana), with production from the Tavşan Mine due to be augmented through
its heap-leach imminently.

 

Dr. Kerim Sener, Managing Director, commented:

"The successful dual-listing of Ariana on the ASX and its associated capital
raising of A$11 million, is a landmark moment since first listing on AIM in
2005. In that time, the Company has evolved from a greenfield exploration
company to a gold producer.

 

"The ASX listing provides a powerful platform for us to accelerate our growth
strategy, broaden our investor base, and unlock the full potential of our
asset portfolio. Central to this is the 100% owned Dokwe Gold Project in
Zimbabwe, a highly compelling development opportunity with significant scale,
strong economics and exciting upside potential.

 

"With a gold price currently exceeding US$3,600/oz the Company continues to
optimise the path forward for the fast-track development of Dokwe, deploying
all our skills and capabilities to build up a planned annual gold production
of at least 60,000 ounces of gold per annum over a thirteen-year mine life,
based on the PFS. With a proven track record of discovery and delivery, Ariana
is well positioned to continue building a long-term, sustainable and globally
recognised gold company."

 

Portfolio Overview

 

Dokwe Gold Project, Zimbabwe

The Company holds a 100% interest in Dokwe, which represents one of the most
significant gold projects in Zimbabwe and is Ariana's flagship growth project.
The project hosts a substantial in-pit JORC-compliant resource of >1Moz of
gold (Table 1) with a robust grade profile and hosts significant exploration
upside across the broader licence area. With excellent project economics and a
clear pathway to development, Dokwe is positioned to become a long-life,
low-cost gold operation and a transformative asset for the Company.

 

The Project is located approximately 110km west of Bulawayo and currently
comprises two known gold deposits; Dokwe North and Dokwe Central (Figure 1).
The project comprises 81 blocks of gold claims and a further 22 blocks of
copper and copper base metal claims covering a total area of 4,040 hectares.
These mining claims allow for mining to commence without the requirement for
further permitting.

 

A Pre-Feasibility Study ("PFS") completed in May 2022, was subsequently
revised and announced on 26 June 2025. The most recent revision indicated a
potential IRR of approximately 75% and a post-tax NPV(10) of approximately
US$354 million (A$538 million)(1), based on a gold price of US$2,750/oz. This
PFS is based on the Dokwe North deposit only, contemplating total gold
production of 0.8Moz of gold (Table 2). Refer to section 4.9 of the
Independent Geologist's Report at Annexure A of the Company's replacement
prospectus dated 5 August 2025 (IGR) for further information in relation to
the PFS and the revised PFS.

 

The Company released an updated in-pit Mineral Resource Estimate for Dokwe
North and Central on 4 March 2025 which is in compliance with the JORC Code
(2012). This showed 1.12 million ounces of gold (based on the higher 0.6 g/t
Au cut-off grade) in JORC (2012) Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resources,
with significant scope to grow (Table 1) based on the exploration potential
identified in the vicinity of the existing deposits (Figure 1).

 

The Project targets an open-pit mining operation, with a treatment capacity of
125,000 tonnes per month of ore to the plant during steady-state production,
based on the PFS (Figure 2). The PFS evaluated two processing options, with
the Carbon-in-Leach (CIL) option advanced to a Reserve schedule. Other key
aspects of the Project include its proximity to infrastructure,
well-maintained road access and site facilities. The site facilities include a
well-established field camp with a fast satellite data connection and with
over 42,000 metres of drill core stored on site.

 

A 0.5% Net Smelter Return (NSR) royalty will be payable to Yataghan
Investments (Private) Limited in respect of the Dokwe Project.

 

(( 1 )) Based on a foreign exchange rate of US$1:A$1.52.

 

Figure 1: Dokwe Project Area, with surface gold geochemistry and existing
drilling, shown inset against a combined geological and aeromagnetic map of
the Bulawayo-Bubi Greenstone Belt and surrounding areas.

 

Figure 2: Dokwe Project Area, showing the Dokwe North and Central open-pits
and the mining infrastructure plans. The assessment of current exploration
data has highlighted certain corridors which host potential for resource
extensions and these are marked as the "Excluded Zones" for mining
infrastructure. These areas will be the focus of new drilling programmes.

 

Dokwe Mineral Resource Estimate and Ore Reserves

 

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.

 

Table 2: Ore Reserves for Dokwe North.

 CATEGORY  DILUTED TONNAGE  GRADE      CONTAINED GOLD (oz)

(Mt)
(g/t Au)
 Proven    7.21             1.33       307,900
 Probable  11.04            1.37       487,900
 TOTAL     18.25            1.36       795,800

 

Notes:

1.  The Dokwe Ore Reserves are reported in accordance with the JORC Code.
Reported using a cut-off grade of 0.47g/t Au. As at 1 March 2022. Sub-totals
are rounded to reflect the accuracy of estimates and this may lead to rounding
errors.

2.  Refer to section 4.9.1 of the IGR for further information regarding the
Dokwe Ore Reserves including information required by ASX Listing Rule 5.9.

 

Zenit Mining Operations, Türkiye

Ariana established itself as a proven operator in Türkiye through a
successful strategy of discovery, development, and production in partnership
with local EPCM and general construction partners. The Company currently holds
23.5% of Zenit Mining Operations ("Zenit"), which operates the Kızıltepe
Gold-Silver Mine, and which has delivered multiple years of profitable
production of c. 21,500 ounces of gold per annum and consistent cashflow.
Building on this success, the Tavşan Gold Project is advancing towards
production from its heap-leach (Figure 3) and is currently the second
producing mine of Zenit in the country (Figure 4). These assets demonstrate
the Company's ability to generate long-term value through efficient, low-cost
operations in highly prospective regions.

 

Figure 3: General site view at Tavsan showing the mine offices in the
foreground with crushers, screens and agglomerator shown towards the top
right. The overland conveyors to the Phase 1 heap-leach pad are installed and
run diagonally across the image. Photograph taken in mid-June 2025.

 

Figure 4: Tavsan Main open pit, showing the current status of open-pit
development. Due to the shallow-dipping nature of the mineralisation, the
stripping ratio has not exceeded 2:1 to date. Photograph taken in mid-May
2025.

 

Western Tethyan Resources, Kosovo

Ariana holds an interest of 76% of Western Tethyan Resources ("WTR") in
Kosovo. WTR in turn owns the rights to 51% of the Slivova Project(2) which is
a high-potential gold deposit located in central Kosovo, within an
underexplored but richly mineralised belt with proven endowment. Ariana is
working with its partners to advance Slivova through further technical
studies, with the project showing strong potential to become a near-term
development opportunity. The project offers exposure to a growing mining
jurisdiction in Europe with favourable conditions for responsible development.

 

(2) WTR applied for a new exploration licence over the Slivova Project in May
2025, which remains pending at the time of this announcement. Refer to the
Company's replacement prospectus dated 5 August 2025 for further details.

 

Venus Minerals, Cyprus

Ariana holds an interest of 61% in Venus Minerals, a Cyprus-based company
advancing a portfolio of copper-gold projects across Cyprus. These include
several brownfield and greenfield opportunities within historically mined
districts, positioning Venus to contribute to the growing demand for copper -
a critical metal in the global energy transition. Ariana's involvement
provides exposure to both precious and base metals within a jurisdiction
strategically located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa.

 

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 at
http://www.arianaresources.com/ (http://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 Resources plc 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

 Shaw and Partners (Lead Manager - ASX)         Tel: +61 (0)2 9238 1268

 Damien Gullone

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

 Dom Barretto / Shivantha Thambirajah /         arianaresources@yellowjerseypr.com

 Bessie Elliot

 

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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