Emerald Resources secures permits for Memot and Okvau gold projects

Emerald Resources secures key permits for its Cambodian gold projects, setting the stage for further growth.

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Key points

  • Emerald Resources has secured full permitting for the Memot Gold Project and extended its Mineral Investment Agreement for the Okvau Gold Mine, facilitating future development and underground mining operations.
  • The Memot agreement provides extensive fiscal incentives, including import tax exemptions and potential project tenure up to 35 years, while the Okvau extension enhances operational confidence for underground expansion.
  • Emerald plans to submit the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the Memot Project by April 2026, with updates on project commencement timelines anticipated, alongside exploration of further growth opportunities in Cambodia and Australia.

The Emerald Resources (ASX: EMR) share price is in focus today as the company announced full permitting for its Memot Gold Project and an extension to the Okvau Gold Mine Mineral Investment Agreement.

What did Emerald Resources report?

  • Memot Gold Project now fully permitted for development and operations after receiving necessary Cambodian Government approvals
  • Extension to the Okvau Gold Mine Mineral Investment Agreement allows import of equipment for upcoming underground development
  • Memot Mineral Investment Agreement provides fiscal incentives including a 3-year import tax exemption and 5-year withholding tax relief for foreign affiliates
  • Okvau Gold Mine life extended, enabling underground mining operations
  • Significant measured and indicated gold resources across Cambodian and Australian projects
  • Strong cash position: A$251.1 million as at September 2025

What else do investors need to know?

Emerald Resources' latest milestones follow a collaborative approval process with multiple Cambodian ministries. The Memot Gold Project's new Mineral Investment Agreement and Industrial Mining Licence give Emerald up to 35 years of project tenure potential, following an initial 15-year term and options for two 10-year extensions.

The Memot agreement delivers significant investment protections and incentives, including import tax exemptions and a five-year standstill on regulatory changes. The Okvau Mine's Mineral Investment Agreement has also been extended, reflecting confidence in Emerald's operations and growing underground mining ambitions.

What did Emerald Resources management say?

Morgan Hart, Managing Director said:

We are pleased to have the full licensing in place for the development and operation of the Memot Gold Project. Securing both the Memot MIA and Memot IML marks a major milestone for the Project and is a testament to the constructive and thorough collaboration we've had with the relevant government ministries and agencies.

Together with the Okvau MIA Extension which now encompasses underground mining activities, the Royal Government of Cambodia has demonstrated their strong and ongoing support for our current operations and planned expansion of mining activities.

In particular we would like to extend our appreciation to the MME, MEF, MoE and other government agencies for their collaborative efforts in finalising these approvals.

We look forward to providing updated timelines for the commencement of both the Memot Gold Project and Okvau Gold Mine underground expansion in the coming months.

What's next for Emerald Resources?

Emerald plans to submit the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the Memot Gold Project to Cambodia's Ministry of Environment by April 2026, with finalisation expected ahead of development. Investors can also look for project commencement timelines soon, as stated by management.

At the Okvau Gold Mine, the expanded Mineral Investment Agreement paves the way for underground mining and a longer project life. Emerald is also exploring further growth opportunities across its Cambodian and Australian gold resource portfolio.

Emerald Resources share price snapshot

Emerald Resources shares have risen 46% in the past 12 months, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has increased 4% over the same period.

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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

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