en.Wedoany.com Reported - EQ Resources (ASX:EQR) board has approved advancing the Mt Carbine tungsten mine expansion project in far north Queensland, with a total investment of $39 million aimed at increasing crushing capacity from approximately 1 million tonnes per year to about 2 million tonnes, while streamlining and automating existing material handling processes.
The expansion plan includes delivery of long-lead items and other critical equipment for the processing plant, followed by infrastructure works to break the current crushing bottleneck constraining operations. Based on processing low-grade stockpiles, the expansion is expected to increase tungsten trioxide production by 500 tonnes per year, with additional output potentially coming from other ore sources. EQR stated that expanding capacity will help the company boost production in the short term and enhance market exposure amid strong current tungsten prices, as it aims to become a reliable, cost-competitive, and secure tungsten supplier in the global supply chain.
Regarding the scope of the expansion, major works include installing upgraded crushing and screening circuits, integrating an upgraded ore sorting circuit, as well as earthworks, civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation systems. The project will be delivered in phases based on cash flow, procurement commitments, and construction readiness, with detailed engineering continuing until June 2026, and procurement and contracting completed over the remainder of 2026. Project funding will combine existing cash reserves and operating cash flow.
Managing Director Craig Bradshaw noted that approving the expansion reflects the company's focus on scaling operations during a period of tungsten supply shortages. "At Mt Carbine, this means building the processing capacity needed to support higher ore throughput, future feed flexibility, and the potential development of the tungsten ore basin surrounding the existing operations," Bradshaw said. "This project is a significant step in cementing Mt Carbine's position as a strong, resilient, and strategically important tungsten producer. It supports near-term production growth in a robust price environment while improving the operational platform needed to remain competitive across the cycle. Our focus now is on disciplined execution, safe delivery, and maintaining production momentum as we continue building EQR's Western Tungsten Platform."
EQ Resources is a global tungsten mining company focused on sustainable mining and processing practices, with assets in North Queensland, Australia, and the province of Salamanca, Spain.
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