Estrella Resources (ASX:ESR) started extraction activities to produce up to 30,000 tonnes of high-grade manganese material from the Ira Miri project in East Timor, according to a Thursday Australian bourse filing.
The program will provide material for sale, export, and testing with potential future long-term offtake partners. The excavation is advancing toward the manganese-bearing horizon, and the first ore exposure is anticipated within the coming days. The pit is expected to have a maximum depth of around 15 meters with a total excavation of around 85,000 cubic meters.
Its shares rose 3% in recent trading on Thursday.