Larvotto Resources (ASX:LRV) - Australia's Largest Antimony Mine Enters Construction Phase

Interview with Ron Heeks, MD of Larvotto ResourcesOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/larvotto-resources-asxlrv-advancing-high-grade-gold-antimony-project-in-nsw-australia-5758Recording date: 8th October 2025Larvotto Resources is advancing Australia's largest antimony-gold operation at Hillgrove, New South Wales, with production targeted for mid-2026 following an accelerated 8-month construction program. Managing Director Ron Heeks has structured a $150 million development leveraging inherited infrastructure acquired from administration, compressing what would typically require $300 million and multiple years into a capital-efficient restart. The project secured $100 million USD in bond financing and $60 million AUD equity, reflecting strong investor confidence in the operation's cash generation potential amid surging antimony prices.The Hillgrove development benefits from exceptional existing assets including 15 kilometers of underground development, a permitted processing plant, mains grid power, and proximity to Armidale, Australia's third most livable town. This infrastructure foundation enables a fully residential workforce, eliminating fly-in-fly-out costs while supporting local community integration. The 500,000-ton-per-annum processing facility will produce approximately 5,000 tons of antimony metal and 40,000 ounces of gold annually, translating to 140,000 gold-equivalent ounces with all-in sustaining costs of negative $2,000 per ounce at current metal prices.Antimony has emerged as the most critical strategic mineral following China's September 2024 export ban, with prices surging from $20,000 to over $60,000 per ton. The metal's defense applications in armor-piercing ammunition and night vision equipment, combined with solar panel manufacturing requirements, have created structural supply deficits that position Larvotto among fewer than five Western projects approaching near-term production. A strategic offtake agreement with Wogen Resources provides mine-gate pricing based on Rotterdam indices, transferring logistics complexity while maintaining full commodity price exposure. The conservative feasibility study economics modeled antimony at prices $20,000 below current levels, creating substantial margin upside that flows directly to cash generation given the byproduct credit accounting structure.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/larvotto-resources-limitedSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com