Jakarta. Merdeka Gold Resources (EMAS) has begun commercial gold production at its Pani mine in Gorontalo earlier than scheduled, marking a major milestone for the Indonesian miner.

The first gold pour took place on Feb. 14 at the Pani Gold Mine in Pohuwato regency, signaling the start of full commercial operations. The achievement, recorded in mid-first quarter 2026, came ahead of the company’s previous target of late Q1 2026.

The initial production yielded doré bullion through a heap leach process, followed by absorption, desorption, and recovery (ADR). The milestone caps years of development work since Merdeka acquired the asset in 2020.

During the first year of operations, Merdeka is targeting an output of around 110,000–115,000 ounces of gold, exceeding its earlier projection of 80,000 ounces.

The open-pit Pani mine is estimated to hold ore reserves of about 4.8 million ounces and mineral resources exceeding 7 million ounces, making it one of Indonesia’s most prospective primary gold assets.

“This achievement came ahead of the schedule we previously communicated to the public, reflecting disciplined project execution and strong operational readiness. The commissioning of Pani lays the foundation for expanding production capacity in the next phase,” President Director Boyke Poerbaya Abidin said in a statement.

Merdeka has also accelerated construction of its Carbon-in-Leach (CIL) processing plant. Earthworks began in early 2026, ahead of the original 2027 schedule. The company is fast-tracking development of a 12 million-ton-per-year CIL facility, now targeted for completion in 2028 instead of 2032.

With the revised timeline, Merdeka aims to reach an annual production of approximately 500,000 ounces by 2029, three years earlier than previously projected.

Gorontalo Governor Gusnar Ismail expressed hope that the mining industry would accelerate regional economic growth.

“I am optimistic that with mining development, the province’s economic growth could exceed 6%, provided it is managed properly,” Gusnar said, noting that Gorontalo’s economy currently expands at 5.71%.

He added that sustained growth would help reduce poverty levels in the province.